Polish commercial network TVN has acquired autism-themed interview format ‘The A Talks’ from London-based distributor Can’t Stop Media.
TVN, which is owned by US conglomerate Warner Bros Discovery (WBD), has commissioned a series based on the format that will air before the end of the year.
The deal comes amid a raft of options for the format signed with other prodcos. Warner Bros International TV Production has rights in Flemish Belgium and the Netherlands; and Fremantle has rights in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.
Furthermore, options have also been agreed with Banijay in Spain and Israel, Ballandi in Italy, Seapoint in Germany, Avanti in Quebec, Rockerdale Studios in the UK, Helium in Australia and Kite Entertainment in Ireland.
The show sees celebrities interviewed by 30 journalists with Autism Spectrum Disorder with the aim of revealing a side to the interviewees that has not been seen in previous press interviews.
“Faced with these very special interviewers, the guests naturally drop their masks and each meeting becomes a magical moment, out of time, filled with emotion, laughter, poetry and impertinence,” according to Can’t Stop.
The format was created by Quad+Ten and Kiosco TV, part of Webedia-owned Elephant Group, and started life as ‘Les Rencontres du Papotin’ on pubcaster France 2 in September. An episode in January featured French president Emmanuel Macron and drew 4.6 million live viewers and a 22.5% share.
Initiated by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, the duo behind 2011 movie ‘The Intouchables’, the French show is hosted by Julien Bancilhon, psychologist and editor-in-chief of publication The Papotin, which publishes articles written by journalists with autism.
“This is content at its best: kind, surprising, funny, emotional and inclusive,” said Can’t Stop co-founder Matthieu Porte, while the company’s other co-founder Arnaud Renard added: “It is a feelgood show about atypical people who show how beautiful their difference is and how their point of view brings something to the table.”
