News from Kingfisher

Kingfisher Television Wins RTS Award

Kingfisher Television Productions is celebrating success after scooping top prize at the prestigious Royal Television Society (Midlands) Awards.

The company picked up the award for ‘Best Independent Programme’, for its popular ITV1 show ‘Safari Park’ based around the life of the people and animals at the West Midland’s Safari Park.

The award was given by the judges for “an outstanding broadcast programme or programme strand”, and is a particular tribute to two people – Programme Director Susan Jones and Director of Wildlife at the Safari Park, Bob Lawrence.

The pair worked closely together to bring the amazing behind the scenes stories to the screen - from tracking lions in Namibia to watching the baby steps of the first white lion cubs to be born in the UK.

The series has subsequently gone on to be success with a wider audience, thanks to be being shown on the Animal Planet channel.

Kingfisher Managing Director Tony Francis said: “From our very first meetings with the people at the Safari Park, we knew their work would fascinate our audience. And so it proved.

“Of course finding the right director helps! And in Susan Jones we had someone who is passionate about the stories the park has to tell, and it’s that passion that made the programme stand out from the crowd.”
New series The BBC’s ‘One Show’: Extreme Britain.

Kingfisher has teamed up with Adrian Chiles and co, to make a series of films for BBC 1’s ‘The One Show’. Working with presenters John Sergeant, Carol Thatcher, Colin Jackson and Angellica Bell, Kingfisher has been charged with bringing a host of ‘Extremes’ to One Show party. The Biggest Cemetery, the longest tunnel, the remotest railway station, the highest village.

All of these, and more, will be shown on the One Show between now and Xmas 2007 Mon-Fri 7pm on BBC1.

Let us know what you think.  
New series  Tales from the Country.

After a successful start, Kingfisher have been asked for another series of Tales from the Country. Selina Scott and Tony Francis will again be hitting the road to uncover the best rural Britain has to offer. The coal-miners of Gloucestershire, the goings-on at the nation’s oldest church and discovering what ever happened to Esperanto. All of this and more of will be shown on ITV1 from Jan 08.

Tales from the Country 2007 Factsheets


New for BBC1 – Building Britain

As part of the David Dimbleby series covering the architecture of the nations past, a series of programmes were aired to look to the future. For BBC1 in the East Midlands, Kingfisher took to the streets of Leicester looking at the cities £3bn facelift. New homes, theatres and a legacy of the worst the 1960s could offer. All of these came under the microscope of renowned architect and presenter Maxwell Hutchison.


 
New for BBC1 – Saving Planet Earth

The BBC’s series of programmes charting the decline of the some of the world’s most endangered species also looked closer to home. In a assignment with a difference, the BBC’s cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew looked at the life of Mountain Hares in Derbyshire, crayfish in Nottinghamshire and moths in Lincolnshire. This 30min programme for BBC1 East Midlands, was one of THE most popular of the Saving Planet Earths across the regions of the BBC.



New series – Safari Park Series 2 .

Spring 2007, saw the start of 8x30 series of life behind the scenes of the West Midlands Safari Park. The series took us into the lives of the keepers who care for the numerous animals at the park – including the only pride of White Lions in the UK. And that includes the cubs. After airing on ITV1, the series has now transferred to the Animal Planet Channel.

For more on West Midland’s Safari Park visit their website at www.wmsp.co.uk

 

Viewers Comments

Many Thanks to all those who take the time and trouble to contact us about our programmes – here are just a selection of the correspondence we’ve received.

“Just wanted to get an email to Tony Francis to thank him for Heart of The Country. I think it's a great programme and I really enjoyed this evening’s edition.”

“For years, 7.30pm has been an oasis of peace in the desert of television. 'Heart of the Country' is its flagship (to mix a metaphor), gentle programmes but with beautiful scenery, lovely music and lots of interesting facts.”

“Hello Team, Just to say this series is the best, my husband and I have always enjoyed your programme because it shows that the "country" is alive and well. Thank you again for a great programme.”

“As a "Leicester lass" (now living in Solihull), I have become more and more interested in this programme; thoroughly enjoyable - and leaving me wishing I had cycled more about the County in my youth!!”

“I love the programme Heart of the Country with Tony Francis. I always feel when watching the interesting items about people and places that I want to go to these places!”

“Absolutely love the programme, in common with most of my friends. Many thanks - keep up the good work.”

And Finally….

Our Production Accountant and all round wonder-woman Jayne Stubbs has had lambs! Eleven mums and 24 lambs are all well down on Jayne’s farm. Pictures may well follow…

 
Heart of the Country wins
‘Feature Programme of the Year Award’!

Heart of the Country, Kingfisher TV’s successful rural affairs programme, has scooped the award for the ‘Best Feature Programme’ at the recent ITV News Awards 2005.

‘Heart of the Country’ was up against five other entries from across the UK, all vying for the award,

The winning episode featured Tony Francis looking at the issues surrounding open-cast mining in the Derbyshire Peak District, and the lives of the protestors who have made their homes amongst the trees.

The awards, held at Bafta headquarters in Piccadilly, were hosted by ITN newsman Mark Austen, and voted for by a panel of prestigious ITV figures.

David Mannion, Editor in Chief of ITV News said: “It’s because of excellent work across the country that our programmes go from strength to strength. The overall standard was high, and entries had to be exceptional just to make the final list.”