Made in Wales: A bold new development opportunity for factual entertainment

BBC Wales, BBC Network, and Creative Wales are joining forces to co-fund the development of a major new factual entertainment series.

We will be inviting production companies with a substantive base in Wales to pitch bold, original ideas that celebrate Welsh creativity while delivering unforgettable entertainment to audiences across the UK.

Up to four companies will be selected for a paid development opportunity, with the ambition to commission a series in 2026.

Further details including a timetable and information about how to pitch will be available soon.

Editorial brief

We’re looking for an ambitious, returnable format, that surprises, unites, and captivates. Whether live, studio-based, or built around a compelling narrative arc, your idea should reflect the humour, heart, and imagination that make Wales so unique but will appeal to audiences across the UK.

Think big. Think distinctive. Think built to resonate far beyond Wales.

We’re especially excited by:

Bold, fresh approaches to competitive formats. Ideas that reinvent the genre with originality and flair. Whether gamified or prestige-led, these reality concepts should grab viewers from the very outset.

Talent-driven quests, adventures and endeavours with editorial substance. Not travelogues or observational journeys, but formats with structure, stakes and storytelling that go beyond moving from place to place.

Visually intriguing worlds that offer escapism and emotional stakes.

Grabby hooks, like the visual opening to Sort Your Life Out, the nail-biting tension that Dragons’ Den delivers and the invitational world of The Great British Sewing Bee - we want bold ideas that have a clear sense of purpose.

The idea must contain authentic Welsh portrayal, through location, voices and production infrastructure. We want ideas that could only be born in Wales but have the power to travel far beyond it.

Below are some points you may wish to consider, but these suggestions are meant to ignite your imagination, not limit it. We want to be surprised, and welcome ideas that challenge our expectations and go in a completely new direction. Show us something we didn’t see coming!

What’s the next evolution of competitive entertainment? What’s a new approach to the traditional whittle-down? Shows like Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star and Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr are huge hits, but what could the next breakout format look like? How might you elevate the genre, twist it, or take it somewhere new?

• How can your format test people and explore human nature in new and exciting ways?
• How will you surprise and wrong-foot the audience?
• Can you bring us unexpected names, unconventional worlds, and surprising approaches?
• How will you mix humour, levity, stress, and pressure, in ways we haven’t seen before?
• What creative way can you blend and weave a strong sense of place into the idea?

We’re open to all shapes of ideas from long form narrative arcs, like Great British Menu, to a reimagination of closed episodes like Sort Your Life Out and Amazing Hotels. Don’t be afraid to push past the expected and give us something bold.

Development phase

This development phase is in partnership with Creative Wales which exists to drive growth across the creative industries, build on existing success and develop new talent and skills.

Up to four companies will be selected for the initial paid development phase, and receive:

• £10K per company (£5K from BBC, £5K from Creative Wales)
• a BBC commissioning editor

Selected companies will then be invited to develop a full proposal, deck, or sizzle.

The BBC will then decide which idea to progress to a non-TX pilot or proof of concept. Indicative tariff: up to £400K per hour.

Eligibility criteria

To pitch, companies must:

• have a substantive base in Wales, as per Ofcom definitions
• employ Welsh-based talent and spend the majority of production budget in Wales
• have a track record in factual entertainment formats
• have experience producing for BBC Wales or BBC Network
• be capable of delivering a project of this scale
• have had a TV commission within the last five years for the BBC or another major UK broadcaster or SVOD platform available in the UK
• be eligible for a BBC PiCoS account

Collaborations between indies are welcome, especially where a strong idea needs additional production experience. We are also open to discussions around third-party funding.

Commissioning timetable

Submission deadline: Midnight Friday 19 December 2025

Shortlisted companies (up to four) notified: week commencing 12 January 2026

Paid development phase: week commencing 19 January until March 2026

Further development (for one company) or commissioning decision: end of March 2026

Deadline for delivery: dependent upon idea but with a view to transmission early 2027

*Please note timetable is subject to change.

How to pitch

Ideas should be submitted via BBC PiCoS to Sorelle Neil, BBC Wales by Midnight on Friday 19 December.

Please add ‘Wales Fact Ent Dev Opp’ in the subject line.

Pitches should be around 500 words long, or a maximum of two A4 pages. Please include the below information outlining how your production company fits the eligibility criteria:

• Address, names and roles of key staff working in the substantive base (Wales) re Ofcom criteria (pdf)
• Confirmation of a TV commission within the last five years for the BBC or another major UK broadcaster or SVOD platform available in the UK
• Examples of previous titles that demonstrate your:

1. track record in factual entertainment formats
2. capability to deliver a project of this scale
3. experience producing for BBC Wales or BBC Network

For any questions, please email Sorelle Neil.

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