Television production company Harry King TV has announced it is launching Harry King Unscripted with new format Curiosity, fronted by comedian Henning Wehn and TV presenter and antiques expert Raj Bisram. The production company will launch the format at the inaugural MIP London later this month.
Curiosity is a new original unscripted format set in a shop that buys and sells outlandish collectibles and curiosities. In each episode, celebrity guests visit the emporium to find trinkets, curios and gifts from the Curiosity shop owners, Raj Bisram and Henning Wehn. The format is developed for both digital and linear distribution, and is adaptable for other territories.
CEO and founder of Harry King TV, Nicholas Sercombe has been a leading television producer and writer in the UK and USA for 30 years. He is the creator of the TV formats of Top Tips with Reeves and Mortimer, Two Old Farts in The Night with Barry Cryer and Willie Rushton, and Bob’s Fab Ads with Bob Monkhouse.
During his career, Sercombe has created TV series and formats with some of the world’s most renowned comedy and acting talent, including Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, Dame Edna Everage (Barry Humphries), Mel Smith, Bob Monkhouse, Barry Cryer, Brian Conley, Leslie Nielsen, and Russ Abbot.
The new unscripted division of Harry King TV will create and produce formats designed for digital and linear TV, which will be made for broadcasters, streamers, digital and FAST channels, and YouTube. The new talent- and format-first model will take advantage of the new production landscape and traditional commissioning slowdown.
Raj Bisram is a TV presenter and antiques expert. His television credits include Four Rooms and Posh Pawn (Channel 4) and BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, Antiques Road Trip, Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Flog It! and Bargain Hunt (BBC). He has also appeared on popular entertainment shows such as Would I Lie to You (BBC One), Celebrity Eggheads and Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC Two).
Henning Wehn is self-appointed German Comedy Ambassador to the UK. His numerous television and radio credits include Have I Got News For You, Would I Lie To You, QI, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, The Unbelievable Truth, Fighting Talk and I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue.
BAFTA- and Emmy-nominated David Meadows (The Sweeney, Robin and the Hoods) is attached as DOP. Ian Bailey (Pride and Prejudice, Atonement, John Wick 3) is the Production Designer.
Harry King TV optioned the format for development from Raj Bisram and Mark Turner. Turner is BAFTA and Brit Award-nominated DP, Director, Producer and Editor.
Harry King TV has partnered with global film and television public relations agency Percy & Warren PR for global representation.
Nicholas Sercombe, CEO of Harry King TV, says: “The unscripted world needs more outlandish and curious shows. Having worked with many of the funniest and creative talent out there we thought it was the right time to bring that attitude from the world of scripted to the land of formats and docs. All of the shows we develop have heart, humour, and a bit of cheekiness to them. After all, the world needs more laughter. And this format, along with our new division, exists to subvert the ‘traditional’ model and bring things to digital, streaming and linear with a raft of excellent talent attached right from the start.”
Raj Bisram says: “The TV industry has been buying and selling the same formats for years, so we thought it was time to shake things up. Curiosity is all about finding hidden gems in unexpected places, and that’s exactly what we’re doing with this show. It’s a fresh take on unscripted TV, made for modern audiences who love great stories, real characters, and a bit of mischief. I can’t wait for people to step into our world and see what treasures we have in store.”
