Emmy-winning US producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, (Pirates of the Caribbean, CSI) is currently adapting a version of a format created by Belfast production company, Wild Rover Productions. ‘Take the Money and Run’ is a new series created by Wild Rover’s Philip Morrow (Secret Fortune), Matthew Worthy (Scratch and Sniff’s Den of Doom) and Kieran Doherty (writer, Sesame Tree) that is now set for transmission on America’s ABC.
Speaking with IFTN, Philip Morrow tells us that he does not wish to give too much away about the format: “It’s an adventure reality game show” he says, keeping the air of mystery intact. Morrow also confirms that the series will challenge participants to commit the perfect crime and get away with it. Initially the series will have a run of 6 x 52 mins on ABC and the executive producers on board are Jerry Bruckheimer, multi Emmy winners Bertram van Munster (The Amazing Race), Elise Doganieri (The Amazing Race Asia), Jonathan Littman (Chase) and Philip Morrow. The series will be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Profiles TV and Horizon Alternative TV.
Wild Rover productions have retained UK and Ireland rights to the format and, when asked if Irish and British audiences can expect to see a home-grown version of the show Philip tells me he is optimistic this will be the case “Indeed, we’re seeing a growth in the level of interest in the format, on the back of ABC using it,” he explains. Philip is currently over and back to Santa Monica in the U.S. to help with the production of ‘Take the Money and Run’. Further production details as to the American version of ‘Take the Money and Run’ will appear soon on IFTN.
Wild Rover Productions are also currently in production in Northern Ireland with ‘Secret Fortune’ for BBC and ‘The David Meade Project’ for BBC Northern Ireland. The former is presented by Nick Knowles (DIY SOS) and is a quiz show that sees winners play for undisclosed amounts of money. Produced by Matthew Worthy (BBC’s Get Smarter in a Week), 'Secret Fortune's Executive Producer is Philip Morrow, series producer is John Ireland (Golden Balls) and director is Chris Power (Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway). The series is shooting in Pacific Quay in Glasgow and transmission details are TBC.
Production recently wrapped on ‘The David Meade Show’ on Friday. October 15th and Philip tells us why he is personally excited by the show: “It will be the first time David Meade will appear on TV,” he starts. “It’ll be an investigation into different aspects of how our minds work. He is a brilliant psychologist and academic and the shooting is going really well.”
Directed by Nick Bray (Making It at Holby) the executive producers involved are Philip and Kieran Doherty. The shoot of the four half hour specials started at the beginning of August and the director of photography is Gerard Strattan (Cardinal Ó Fiaich) who shot the four half hour specials on DV Cam in and around Northern Ireland, concentrating mostly in Belfast. The show will now be edited in Yellow Moon and its TX date is TBC.
