BBC, TVNZ order live-action kids series Paradise Café

UK and New Zealand public broadcasters the BBC and TVNZ have ordered a live-action kids series that will start shooting this August on the Cook Islands in the South Pacific.

TBIvision understands Paradise Café will be produced by Endemol offshoot Initial and Kiwi producer The Gibson Group. UK distributor Portman Film and Television has come on board as the international sales agent, fighting off competition from Target.

The show itself will follow a group of kids on a paradise island as they unravel a ghostly mystery over the 13x30mins episodes. Casting his underway and the leads will be a mix of Kiwi and UK actors.

The series will air on BBC kids channel CBBC in January. TVNZ is expected to air it around the same time, but has not finalised an air date.

Gibson boss Dave Gibson will be the Kiwi executive producer and Rachel Davis the UK exec producer.