Cirque de Soleil rolls up for three-year TV deal and Nickelodeon commission new comedy

Published Tuesday 4 April 2006 at 15:20 by Liz Thomas

Circus show Cirque du Soleil is set to be revamped for UK television, after signing a three-year deal with Initial, a subsidiary of independent production giant Endemol, which makes Big Brother.

The Canadian performance group will work with the television producer on a series of 60-minute programmes expected to be filmed at the O2 Arena, previously known as the Millenium Dome, and broadcast in 2007 and 2008.

Cirque du Soleil will lead all creative content aspects of the stage shows but Initial will develop the television production side. The company is pitching to UK broadcasters.

Andy Ward, director of special projects at the indie, said: “Cirque du Soleil are the most exciting, visual and popular artists in the world and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to work with them to translate their spirit to television.”

Cirque du Soleil began 22 years ago with less than 20 performers but now has in excess of 3,000 employees - including 900 artists - spanning 40 countries.

• Nickelodeon UK has commissioned a new comedy series from the creators of its Bafta-nominated football drama Renford Rejects. UK indie Helion Pictures and French producer Moi J’aime la Television will make 26 half-hour episodes of Genie in the House, which is only the broadcaster’s second original live-action series. Aimed at seven to 12 year-olds, the series follows the adventures of a family who move into a new home and discover a genie in their attic. The show is being filmed with a UK cast at Elstree Studios.