Sky 1 commissions Ross Kemp: Extreme World for a third series

14 June 2013, London:

Today Sky 1 HD announces the commission of the third series of the critically acclaimed factual series Ross Kemp: Extreme World (6x60). Ordered by Sky’s Head of Factual programming, Celia Taylor, the commission continues to reflect Sky’s commitment to increase investment in original British production.

Ross Kemp and the Extreme World team continue to gain extraordinary and unparalleled access to the places and people caught up in some of the most important global issues of our time. Consistently producing ground-breaking programmes, this strand of documentary films continues to challenge and inform the viewer.

Currently in production, the BAFTA award-winning documentary maker has just returned from Mumbai and Calcutta where he investigated India's shameful secret; a sex-trafficking industry where hundreds-of-thousands of girls and young women go missing every year and are forced into a life of prostitution in India's major cities.

In Rio de Janeiro, a city trying to clean up its image ahead of the football World Cup and the next Olympic Games, Ross gained access into the secretive underworld of Rio's favelas to make a film about the world's worst crack-cocaine epidemic that is currently sweeping through Brazil.

In Papua New Guinea, Ross is held-up at gunpoint, but instead of submitting to his hijackers he manages to turn the situation around and interview his potential captors in an extraordinary exchange which reveals why this ex-British colony is now one of the most violent countries on the planet.

And in Northern Ireland, Ross looks at the state of play fifteen years after the Good Friday agreement, visiting communities, meeting with the people who live in them and speaking with loyalists, republicans and the police as he explores the issues in one of Britain's most divided societies.

A further two films are in pre-production.

Previous programmes in the series have seen Ross infiltrate Venezuela's lawless prisons to lift the lid on Chavez's controversial regime, and in the Congo, Ross exposed the militia's responsible for an epidemic of sexual violence against women. While other broadcasters were banned from Pakistan, Ross gained entry, at risk to himself and the production team, to tell the extraordinary story of the battle for Karachi; Closer to home, Ross won praise for his hard-hitting documentary on the plight of Glasgow's homeless.

Captivating customers and critics alike, plaudits have included the Daily Telegraph stating “Ross Kemp tackles compellingly edgy subjects”; whilst The Times said “you can’t argue with the outstanding access Kemp gets. Shockingly intimate”.

Celia Taylor, Head of Features & Factual: “Ross and the team at Freshwater Films continue to deliver hugely impressive and credible factual content. The first two series were a hit with Sky customers, so I am delighted we are able to offer up a third exclusively to Sky 1.”

Ross Kemp: "I'm incredibly proud of the films we make for Sky 1. We remain dedicated to giving a voice to those caught up in some of the most extreme situations throughout the world. I hope that this series continues to resonate with the Sky 1 viewer and that they continue to share our passion for the programmes that we make"

The Executive Producers are Matt Bennett and Ross Kemp. The Producer is Tom Watson. The series is a Freshwater Films Limited production.

This latest commission is part of Sky's commitment to increase its investment in original British content by 50% over three years. By 2014, Sky expects to invest £600 million a year in British programmes across its portfolio of channels. This commitment follows the success of home-grown content across the portfolio including entertainment hits GOT TO DANCE and A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, dramas STRIKE BACK and MAD DOGS, comedies such as MOONE BOY and STELLA, and factual shows such as GREGGS: MORE THAN MEATS THE PIE and GALAPAGOS 3D WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH.

Notes to editor

For further information please contact:                               

Rowan Adams                                                                                                  

Senior Publicist, Sky 1 HD                                                                           

T: +44 (0)20 7032 3078                                                                     

M: +44(0)7557 847 485                                                                  

E: rowan.adams@bskyb.com    

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