News round-up: ‘Stranger Things’ star to front NBCU format; UK’s C5 returns to ‘Madame Blanc’; Cake preps ‘Amelia’

Nikola Đuričko (Stranger Things)

Stranger Things star to front NBCU format

TV Una in Serbia has ordered the 24th international adaptation of NBCUniversal Formats’ entertainment show, Hollywood Game Night, with Nikola Đuričko (Stranger Things) hosting.

The Serbian show, known as Holivudiranje, is a co-production between NBCUniversal Formats and TV Una.

The reality competition format invites viewers to an exclusive showbiz soiree as one well-known host referees a raucous celebrity game night, complete with two non-celebrity contestants. The contestants join one of two celebrity teams to compete in a range of recognisable party games and pop quizzes, as they battle for the chance to walk away with a cash prize.

The original debuted on NBC and was created by actor/producer Sean Hayes and producer Todd Milliner.

UK’s C5 returns to Madame Blanc

Paramount-owned Channel 5 in the UK and AMC Networks’ Acorn TV have ordered a second season of crime drama The Madame Blanc Mysteries, which will include a Christmas special.

UK prodco Clapperboard and Saffron Cherry Productions will co-produce with Acorn Media Enterprises on board as international distributor.

The second 7 x 60-minute season returns to the beautiful French village of Sainte Victoire to follow respected antiques dealer, Jean White, returning fresh from surviving an attempt on her life by the duplicitous Barbara.

The second run will be directed by Dermot Boyd (Mount Pleasant). Mike Benson (Cold Call) will serve as executive producer for Clapperboard alongside Sally Lindsay and Caroline Roberts-Cherry (The World According to Grandpa) for Saffron Cherry.

Filming will begin on location this year, with the Christmas special set to air on C5 in 2022, while the rest of S2 will transmit in 2023.

Cake preps Amelia

Kids’ entertainment specialist Cake has struck a partnership with DCM Pictures and Boulder Media on 2D adventure comedy series Amelia Fang.

The show is aimed at 6-9 year olds and has been inspired by the books written and illustrated by Laura Ellen Anderson, which have sold over half a million copies in the UK and have been translated into 24 languages.

Amelia Fang will be produced by DCM Pictures (Bibi & Tina) with animation led by Boulder Media in Dublin and directed by Robert Cullen (Gumball). The writing team is led by Elly Brewer (Shaun The Sheep). Exec producer Cake will handle all international distribution.

The show is set in an unusual world full of eccentric characters and “follows the wonderfully funny adventures of a young vampire with a big heart”.