The Big Challenge is a travel reality format that combines Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days with Big Brother.

The show pits 12 contestants from different professions and walks of life against each other as they must travel the world with no money and try to avoid elimination. The contestants are flown to Mumbai without their knowledge and given $100 each where they must find accommodation and a job.

Each week the contestant with the least money will be eliminated.

The format was created by Izzet Pinto, chief executive of Turkish format distributor Global Agency. "It's based on when I moved to Thailand and was broke. I borrowed some money from the Chinese mafia to set up a shoe store, which became one of the biggest fashion brands in the country," he says.

The formats outfit struck a deal with Turner-owned Indian production company Miditech to produce a pilot of the show and hopes to replicate Endemol's model of producing a raft of international versions of gameshow Wipeout in Argentina, except in India.

"It's a very colourful country with some great producers and it will be cheap to produce there," adds Pinto.

Global Agency has already struck a number of international option deals including with Scandinavia's Sparks Network and a Spanish production company.