Discovery’s US science net acquires Gervais series

Discovery-owned US broadcaster the Science Channel has acquired Ricky Gervais’ travel series An Idiot Abroad after striking a deal with distributor Mentorn International.

The Science Channel will launch the eight part series, which follows Gervais’ sidekick Karl Pilkington as he travels the world to exotic locations including the pyramids in Egypt and India’s Taj Mahal, next year.

The series, which was originally produced for Sky 1 by Mentorn Media (Tinopolis), was a ratings success in the UK where its first episode recorded ratings of 821,400, becoming one of the pay broadcaster’s highest rated shows.

David Leach, managing director at Mentorn International, told TBIvision: “I can confirm that Mentorn International is distributing the series worldwide and that we have concluded a US licence. The formal announcement of US broadcaster is expected to be made next week,” he said.
 
The show has also been sold to Australian commercial broadcaster Ten Network and TV3 New Zealand.

“Meanwhile, we have also completed a lot of other international sales as the series has attracted a great deal of interest from buyers, and we will be taking it to NATPE in January,” he added.