The Stage

E4 to air Fame-style reality show

Published Tuesday 21 November 2006 at 12:40 by Liz Thomas

Channel 4 is creating a modern, real life version of Fame, in a new reality programme featuring young performers trying to make it in dance, acting and singing.

The show is set to be aired on the broadcaster’s digital sister channel E4 and will follow around ten to 15 promising artists, who, under the guidance of leading teachers in each field, will undergo intense training to help them progress their careers.

Danny Cohen, head of E4 and factual entertainment, said the aim was to show the reality of making it in the industry and highlight the dedication and commitment necessary to progress, while tough competition and knock-backs are the norm.

He told The Stage: “It is a real life Fame, that is the model for the summer school. It will be quite hard and quite gritty, it’s not about a quick fix of performing in front of a panel of judges.”

Entitled E4’s School of Performing Arts, it is understood there will be three or four people selected to attend in each department. The students will be expected to train every day and will have to live together over the course of the summer school. They will also be expected to take part-time jobs in order to fund their social lives.

The production is being made by independent production house Silver River, the company behind Property Ladder and Sex Inspectors. It is expected to broadcast in summer 2007.