Channel 4 unveils access documentary slate

Channel 4 has unveiled a slate of access documentaries that investigate policing, mental health, the City of London and retailing in the UK.

Cop Control (w/t), is an 8 x 60-minute series that has access to what is billed as the nerve centre of UK policing, the Command and Control Unit – colloquially known as Force Control.

Filmed by indie Optomen over a six-week period in Devon and Cornwall, each episode shows the critical decisions that the control room team makes each day against a rising number of emergency calls and stretched resources.

The executive producers are Amelia Hann and Nick Hornby, while the series producer is Charlotte Wassermann and the senior producer/director is Chris Rowe. It was commissioned by C4’s Alisa Pomeroy.

The critical choices facing mental health workers is also the focus of The Decision (w/t), a 4 x 60-minute series produced by Story Films.

The series has had access to Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, one of the UK’s largest mental health trusts – and explores the pressure on mental health services and the seemingly impossible decisions that clinicians have to make every day.

Executive producers are Adam Hopkins, Peter Beard and David Nath, while series producer is Sophie Jones. It was commissioned by C4’s Charlotte Desai and Rita Daniels.

Meanwhile, one-hour single doc The Bankers Fortress (w/t) from Halcyons Heart Films profiles Broadgate – the 32-acre complex in the City of London at the centre of Britain’s global banking empire.

Made over two years, the film looks at the lives of the men and women who populate Broadgate – from the richest to the poorest. Executive producer is Simon Ford, while the producer/camera is Laura McCutcheon and the director is Joseph Bullman. C4’s Danny Horan is the commissioner.

Inside Missguided (w/t), profiles the growth of online fashion retailer Missguided, looking at the challenges of operating in such a competitive market. The Manchester-based company went from zero turnover to over £200 million a year. But after eight years of success, Missguided lost £26 million in 2017/2018.

The 4 x 60-minute series is produced by Pulse Films, and the executive producers are Nelesh Dhand, Jon Alwen and Sharyn Mills. The C4 commissioning editors are Rita Daniels and Fozia Khan.

Finally, the long-running obs doc Born To Be Different returns for another 1 x 60-minute instalment. First commissioned in 2000, it began following the lives of six children, each born with a disability, and the impact that has on them and their families.

In this latest episode – the first since 2016 – Born To Be Different catches up with them as they turn 19 and take their place in the world as adults. The production company is Ricochet, while the executive producer is Joanna Ball, the producer is Cat Green and the producer/director is Laurence Turnbull. It was commissioned by Fozia Khan.

Channel 4 head of factual Danny Horan said: “Getting deep access into institutions is at the heart of what we do – whether it’s a police force having to make critical decisions where to place their resources, a NHS Trust deciding a priority of mental health needs or a multimillion-pound fast-fashion business that is feeding the hunger for the latest trends. They are often the bellwether of our society.”