Benelux duo VRT & NPO strike ‘unprecedented’ five-show co-pro pact with ‘Professor T’ firm De Mensen

Professor T

Belgian broadcaster VRT and NPO in the Netherlands have signed an unprecedented five-show co-production pact with Professor T producer De Mensen.

The deal will see VRT and NPO working with the prodco on at least five shows over the next three years as the partners look to tap into the burgeoning popularity of Belgian scripted and unscripted series.

De Mensen has been on a streak recently with Dutch TV host and actor Tom Waes helping the prodco’s shows to travel and perform in the Netherlands as well as further afield.

Output has included Difficult Destinations, The Story Of Flanders and Undercover, while Professor T has been remade in the UK. De Mensen said it is now looking “to focus even more on international (co-)productions” spanning drama, entertainment and documentaries.

It follows France 3’s success with De Mensen’s crime series Sophie Cross, which was produced with FTV Studios, and crime drama Ferry: The Series on Netflix, which is part of the Undercover franchise.

The Belgium production house, which was launched 23 years ago, is also behind the country’s longest-running daily quiz show in Blockx, as well as documentaries such as Godforsaken and reality shows Surviving The Special Forces.