Advanced Television

UKTV commissions Guy Martin’s Proper Jobs and Katie Piper: Locked Up In Louisiana

August 22, 2024

UKTV has announced the commission of the new series, Guy Martin’s Proper Jobs (4×60’), for U&Dave and free streaming service, U. The four-part series is to be produced by North One and will air in 2025.

No stranger to trying new things, Guy Martin’s Proper Jobs will see the motorcycle racer, truck fitter, part-time farmer, enthusiastic engineer and sometime television presenter, attempt a variety of different roles that involve a lot of hard graft, no shortage of skill and that perhaps don’t get the recognition they deserve.

Martin’s not thinking about sitting behind a desk writing press releases or sending a load of emails back and forth here though. No, he wants to get stuck in doing some of the most demanding and dangerous jobs in the UK. Martin will fully immerse himself in his new role and undergo all the essential training, live with his co-workers, and by doing so, learn more about the people who do these jobs day in, day out. The former motorcycle racer will be able to see for himself the local and cultural significance these jobs have today and may have had in the past.

The proper jobs Martin will be doing include becoming a trawler deckhand (something Grimsby lad Martin is keen to learn more about), getting to grips with nature as a wildlife warden on the remote Calf of Man island, training to become a firefighter in some scarily real environments, and becoming part of the dog mountain rescue team tackling dangerous terrain as a mountain rescue guide.

Martin said: “I’ve just always been fascinated by people who are masters of their trade, especially when they’re right into it, so it’s an honour to work alongside some right interesting folk and find out a bit more about how and why they do it. There’s a load of jobs I’ve always wanted to have a go at and if an opportunity comes to get stuck in and learn from proper experts and grafters, then sign me up. Fingers crossed I don’t cock things up.”

The U&Dave Original series has been commissioned by Helen Nightingale, Head of Factual for UKTV, and ordered for U&Dave by Cherie Hall, Channel Director, and Hilary Rosen, Director of Commissioning. Executive Producer for North One is Steve Gowans and the Series Producers and Directors are Ewan Keil and James Woodroffe. Guy Martin’s Proper Jobs will air on U&Dave and streaming service U in 2025. 

Helen Nightingale, Head of Factual, UKTV said: “Guy is someone we’ve admired for a long time and this new series will have all the elements that make him so popular – his enthusiasm, his passion, and the fact that while showing the utmost respect for others, he doesn’t take himself too seriously. I’m delighted to be working with North One again and I know they’ll make a brilliant series.”

Cherie Hall, Channel Director, U&Dave, added: “Guy’s background and own work ethic make him the perfect person to tackle these proper jobs and his unique take on things makes him a naturally funny, and perfect character for U&Dave. I can’t wait to see him get his hands dirty on these proper jobs.

Guy Martin’s Proper Jobs is the latest original series for U&Dave. Other recently announced forthcoming commissions for the channel include Will and Ralf Should Know Better with Ralf Little and Will Mellor, Silence is Golden hosted by Dermot O’Leary and featuring Katherine Ryan, Follow the Leader with Jamali Maddix and World’s Most Dangerous Roads, which will follow Battle In The Box hosted by Jimmy Carr, Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable and scripted comedy Meet The Richardsons which have all aired this year.

And TV presenter, Katie Piper returns to U&W to once again uncover life for women behind bars in the USA. (4×60’). Across four episodes Piper will meet the inmates at New Orleans Parish Prison, where she will delve into inmates’ cases and try to uncover what drove these women to commit the serious and shocking crimes they have been accused of.

Piper said: “Off camera I am committed to working with women in prisons to understand motivation and help rehabilitation, and I’m really proud to be making this second series with Flicker and U&W – they are an all-female team that has empathy and storytelling as the heart of what they do. We travelled to America and in one prison I try to understand what has led the women we meet to this point, what circumstances have they been living in, what trauma they experienced and how their lives have been affected. For some this isn’t simple, and we consider how a wide range of factors effect different people in different ways.  I hope that it gives viewers an insight into something that isn’t perhaps as straightforward as you would initially think and gives us all some pause for thought.”

Piper previously presented Katie Piper: Jailhouse Mums for U&W Similarly, this new series is produced by Flicker. The new documentary series is commissioned by Helen Nightingale, head of factual and factual entertainment with Kirsty Hanson, senior commissioning editor, and ordered for U&W by Adam Collings, channel director, and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning.

Kirsty Hanson, Senior Commissioning Editor, UKTV, says, “We are thrilled to be working with Katie and the brilliant team at Flicker again on the brand new series Katie Piper: Locked Up In Louisiana. This time we will see Katie meet women who have been accused of very serious and sometimes heinous crimes and try to unravel and understand their motivations. With our previous series Katie Piper: Jailhouse Mums being such a success with our audience, this series promises to follow suit being a captivating and poignant watch.”

Adam Collings, Channel Director, U&W, says, “I’m delighted to announce that Katie Piper will be returning to U&W for another unfiltered view into the US prison system. Viewers can expect an unflinching look into these complicated stories with Katie at the helm. It’s an essential addition to a brilliant slate for 2025.”

The new series joins the likes of Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over and Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over USA, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, Katherine Ryan: Parental Guidance, Gemma & Gorka: Life Behind The Lens, as well as U&W’s new true crime originals Back From The Dead: Who Kidnapped Me?, Red Flag and Lies, Deceit & Betrayal.

Katie Piper: Locked Up In Louisiana will air on U and U&W in 2025.

Categories: Press Releases

Tags: , , ,