UKTV launches raft of new series

British digital terrestrial and pay broadcaster UKTV has launched its latest season with a raft of new commissions and international acquisitions.

This is the broadcaster’s first programming launch since the arrival of Darren Childs, the former managing director of BBC Worldwide Channels, who replaced David Abraham in July.

Its crime channel Alibi has acquired Dana Delaney-fronted procedural Body of Proof from Disney Media Distribution. The series, which is set to launch later this year on ABC, stars Desperate Housewives star Delaney as a neurosurgeon turned medical examiner.

General entertainment network Watch has commissioned RDF Television to produce 5x1hour ob-doc series Nice Day For A Greek Wedding and 6x1hour TA in Afghanistan from Twofour. It has also acquired Too Fat for Fifteen: Fighting Back, the 8x1hour US series distributed by Passion Distribution.

Meanwhile, male skewing channel Dave and Good Food are launching a number of cooking formats; Dave has commissioned Shine TV to produce butchery series Butchered, while Good Food has commissioned Optomen to make 10x1hour Bill’s Tasty Weekends following Australian foodie Bill Granger and Twofour to produce 10x30mins Choccywoccydoodah, following the exploits at the famous Brighton cake shop.

Yesterday has acquired the UK rights to IMG Media and World Media Rights’ documentary series Nazi Collaborators, while Home is launching True North’s What The Neighbours Did and Diesel Films’ Celebrity DIY with Craig Phillips and Eden has picked up rights to Saint Thomas Productions’ six part science documentary series Life on Fire.

Separately, UKTV has struck a deal with Canadian producer Shaftesbury Films and ITV Studios Global Entertainment to fund a fourth season of crime drama Murdoch Mysteries.