ITV drives Coach Trip format to France

UK broadcaster ITV has sold its entertainment format Coach Trip to one of France’s leading commercial broadcasters.

M6 will air a local version of the show, which will be known as Le Bus. It will adapt the UK-originated format with ITV’s France-based production division, ITV Studios France.

The reality show has proved popular on ITV in the UK where a seventh season is in production for Channel 4. It follows a group of tourists as they travel around Europe and Asia by bus. In each instalment the least popular couple are voted off the coach and replaced by a new contestant.

ITV’s sales arm has shopped the show into 100 territories, but this is the first time a local version will be made.

“A key priority is to exploit our rich portfolio of brand new and established properties locally, and this deal marks the first international commission for Coach Trip,” says François Florentiny, managing director of ITV Studios France.