UKTV makes double Prospero commission
December 18, 2024

UKTV has commissioned two new series from Prospero Productions. Brit Cops Down Under (8×60′) for U&W and The Legend of Outback Gold (w/t) (6×60′) for U&Yesterday will also both be available on its free streaming service, U.
Brit Cops Down Under is a documentary following a group of seven UK police officers as they make the momentous decision to uproot their lives and move to the other side of the world to become Western Australian Cops.
Brit Cops Down Under is commissioned by UKTV Head of Factual and Factual Entertainment Commissioning, Helen Nightingale, and ordered for U&W by Director of Programming – Factual & Factual Entertainment, Adam Collings, and Director of Commissioning, Hilary Rosen. Executive Producer for Prospero Productions is Julia Redwood, and the Series Producer is Meredith Watson Jeffrey. The programme will be distributed outside the UK by DCD Rights.
The Legend of Outback Gold is a documentary adventure series following amateur treasure hunters and lifelong friends, Jeff Harris and Brendan Elliot who, at 10 years old, learned at school about a huge deposit of gold and made a pact to find it.
The series is commissioned by Commissioning Executive, Tracy-Jean, with Nightingale, and ordered for U&Yesterday by Collings and Rosen. Executive Producers for Prospero Productions are Redwood and Jules Fortune. The Series Producer and Director is Eliot Buchan. BossaNova will handle international distribution outside the UK.
Nightingale commented: “I’m delighted Prospero Productions are making both series for us. Brit Cops Down Under follows people making a massive life change, and the series really captures the emotional upheavals that come with that, they are balancing doing what’s best for their families, while also starting an exciting, essential and challenging new job. And The Legend of Outback Gold promises to have plenty of twists and turns as the team use all manner of skills and ingenuity on the search for the legendary loot. Both series are very different, but both bring the best of British and Australian characters and values to the screen in a way I hope our viewers will really appreciate.”
Redwood added “These two commissions are incredibly exciting for Prospero and we’re over the moon to be working with UKTV. This is not only a wonderful opportunity for us to continue to broaden our partnerships in the UK, but also to demonstrate how Australian and UK stories can combine to create entertaining, engaging programming that I hope will appeal to a wide audience.”
Brit Cops Down Under is in post-production and will air on U&W in February 2025. The Legend of Outback Gold is in production and will air on U&Yesterday in early 2026.