Dara O Briain and Dave Power-up for New Gaming Series
LONDON – 21 March 2016 – UKTV’s leading entertainment channel Dave continues to expand its entertainment slate by diving into the world of computer games with a brand new commission Dara O Briain’s Go 8 Bit (6x60’). Dara O Briain’s Go 8 Bit is based on the Edinburgh smash hit live show Go 8 Bit and hosted by comedian and gaming enthusiast Dara O Briain. Each week the show will see two celebrity guests compete to be crowned ‘8 Bit Champion’. The new series is developed and produced by DLT Entertainment and is its first commission since expanding to non-narrative entertainment.
The team captains are Steve McNeil, a self-confessed gaming geek, and Sam Pamphilon, a cynical amateur, who both devised and hosted the original Edinburgh show. Each week they will guide their celebrity guest team mate through five rounds of increasingly competitive, hilarious gaming contests. Whether it be an arcade classic like Pac-Man, the latest blockbuster Grand Theft Auto or Fallout title, the most cutting edge computer technology – or even larger-than-life game-inspired physical challenges, Dara and the show’s resident gaming expert Ellie Gibson will be on hand to adjudicate, commentate, and generally wind up the contestants. The series will be recorded in front of a live studio audience who will decide the winner of each round.
Dara O Briain said, “Put a video game controller in the hands of a nun and she'll turn into a trash-talking bloodthirsty monster. Give a controller to a comedian and they'll do that too, but funny. In video games veritas, my friends. This show is a raucous, back-biting, properly competitive celebration of the world's favourite pastime. Let’s Go 8 Bit!”
Iain Coyle, UKTV senior commissioning editor, said, “As someone who barely knows his Wii U from his ZX Spectrum, I was a huge fan of the live show. Add Dara to that mix and I think you’ve got yourself the potential to join gaming and comedy audiences in a completely unique way.”
Steve North, Dave general manager, said, “Go 8 Bit is a very funny stage show with a cult following. We love working with the comedy community to bring successful stage shows to the Dave audience, as we did with Alex Horne’s Taskmaster. Having Dara on board makes it a perfect fit for Dave.”
Don Taffner Jr., executive producer and president at DLT Entertainment, said, “Dara O Briain’s Go 8 Bit is unlike anything else on TV. It is a completely new type of gaming show with its mix of gaming experts, comedians, guest stars and nostalgia to create an unmissable entertainment series. The show will combine our love for retro games with the latest technology and audience interaction that all viewers – young, old, male, female, and most importantly gamers and non gamers – will love. We are looking forward to working with UKTV and Dave to bring this exciting new concept to life.”
Dara O Briain’s Go 8 Bit has been ordered by director of commissioning, Richard Watsham and Dave general manager, Steve North and will be executive produced for Dave by Iain Coyle. Executive producers for the series are Donald Taffner, Jr. and Michaela Hennessy-Vass, the series producer is Darren Sole, the producer is Rohan Acharya, and the series director is Steve Smith. Dara O Briain’s Go 8 Bit will join the successful raft of UKTV Originals on Dave, including two brand new series of Taskmaster later this year, new Storage Hunters UK, Red Dwarf XI and Hoff the Record series two. UKTV's flagship free-to-air entertainment channel has retained its place as the number one non-PSB channel in the UK and grew by 1% year-on-year in 2015.
Dara O Briain’s Go 8 Bit will air on Dave in Autumn 2016.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About DLT Entertainment:
With headquarters in London and New York, DLT Entertainment Ltd. is engaged in every aspect of television distribution and production around the world, as well as stage production in the US and in the UK where it owns London’s Shaftesbury Theatre.
Founded in 1963 as a distribution company by Don Taffner Sr., the company added television production to its portfolio in 1977. It has enjoyed terrific success in its fifty-six year history with legendary hits on both sides of the Atlantic including the multiple award-winning and BBC Trust praised sitcom My Family, As Time Goes By, Three’s Company, Too Close For Comfort and Meet My Folks. In addition, DLT has built a reputation as a leading distribution company with classics such as The Benny Hill Show, The World at War, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood, The Russ Abbot Show, Michel LeGrand and Friends, and Dara O’Briain’s Go 8 Bit.
London's Shaftesbury Theatre, where Motown, The Musical is curently enjoying a sell out run, is owned by DLT.