ITV piloting My Little Soldiers

UK commercial broadcaster ITV has ordered a new family entertainment pilot My Little Soldiers, which is a UK adaptation of the Japanese format The Journey.

The show follows kids as they are sent out on adventures such as looking after an ice cream van while the owner is away. The kids think they are embarking upon these exploits alone, but they are being followed by a camera team that captures the action as it unfolds.

The UK version will be larger scale, with more emphasis on the hidden camera aspects than the Japanese show. It will have two ‘journeys’ per show. The pilot is being made by UK indie North One Television, which is part of the All3Media Group.

ITV will make a call on a full series order when it has seen the one-hour pilot, which is in production. The producers are hopeful it will be picked up and say it suits an early Saturday evening slot.

As well as Japan, the show has also been made in Italy where it goes by the name Mi Raccomando (which, roughly translates as Take Care or Try to be Good).