Fatanomics features Maverick regular Dr Christian Jessen in a new series format which counts the cost of Britain’s growing obesity problem by bringing together dieting and economics. At a time when obesity costs the UK health service £15 billion per annum and Britain’s weight loss industry is worth over £2 billion a year, radical new research suggests that weight loss (in those who have repeatedly tried and failed to diet) can successfully be achieved by following the principle of “loss aversion” – i.e. you’re more likely to lose weight by being punished financially if you fail to hit agreed weight loss targets.
Each episode will feature two contributors who are determined to lose weight but like so many of us, lack the willpower to succeed. But there’s a twist – each of our dieters dislikes the other in principle because they disagree on a fundamental issue. Their antipathy to the other will help motivate them to succeed, because they can’t bear the thought of losing money to their dieting rival, if the other is more successful at losing weight. Fatanomics capitalises on Maverick’s wealth of experience making highly popular and intelligent health and well-being programming in this series originally commissioned by Channel 4, where (4 x 60’) have been commissioned in the UK. Mark Downie and Ian Holt are at the helm for Maverick.
Less arduous, but equally challenging – the second format offering via all3media International is The Great Culture Quiz. A game-show studio is the setting for this amusingly highbrow challenge which sees two “cultural” organisations pitted against each other over four rounds of questions on culture and the Arts. Combining individual and team play, the competing august bodies’ knowledge of arts and learning are tested through buzzer rounds, specialist knowledge and via the A-Z Arts “letter” board – whilst the pressure is added by the ticking clock – with reputations at stake and the threat of having to give away tickets to their rivals for an upcoming performance or event. The Great Culture Quiz is a Sky Arts commission in the UK and will launch later this year with a 15 x 1Ž2 hour run. The show is Executive Produced by Jim Sayer and Stephen Leahy for Maverick.
Sayer, also CEO of Maverick, noted, “The show is a great mix of general Arts knowledge and specialist subjects in a really entertaining, competitive format, with top teams from world famous institutions and huge amounts of play along for the audience at home. If you think you know your Doors from your Handel, this is the show for you!”
Maartje Horchner, Head of Acquisition at all3media International added, “It’s always a pleasure to launch a Maverick show – they bring a great experience in medial and “body-matter” programming (10 Years Younger, Miss Naked Beauty etc.), always pertinent and intelligent – so we are confident that Fatanomics will be taken seriously by broadcasters around the world. The Great Culture Quiz offers witty and entertaining challenge for the higher brow – it’s a delightful interpretation of the quiz show.”
