Unsightly illnesses, plastic surgery, getting naked and selling houses, a bit of an odd mix, but they are the backbone of some of Birmingham-based Maverick TV’s award winning programmes.
The production company was founded in 1993 and is behind some of the television hits of today including Embarrassing Bodies, 10 Years Younger, How to Look Good Naked, Bizzare ER. Forthcoming programmes to look forward to are Children’s Hospital, and The Buying Game presented by Theo Paphitis. It also creates websites, page-turning books, educational and public sector projects and embraces new forms of digital media from mobile content, games and cross platform strategies for more than twenty TV brands.
Most recently, it has broken new ground with its digital offering through an exciting live web show, Embarrassing Bodies Live, which is shaped and driven by viewers. Three turnover shows will be online on www.channel4.com/bodies immediately after selected episodes are aired on screen. A UK broadcasting first, the 20 minute show allows viewers to interact with medical experts, and have their questions answered, discuss their experiences and even have their conditions diagnosed online in real-time.
Each show is hosted by a Channel 4 news reporter, alongside the TV three doctors, who’ll be discussing the main talking points from the episode just seen on Channel 4, followed by a catch-up with one of the patients, chosen by the audience. Throughout the web show the presenters will interact with viewers who will be able to dictate the editorial of the programme through questions and live polls, as well as examining images submitted by viewers, and picking out key concerns and trends on Twitter.
Dan Jones, Head of New Media at Maverick said: “Around 150,000 people already engage online during and immediately after each episode, so this is a great opportunity to try something new. It aims to take the best of ‘two screen’ experiences such as The Apprentice Predictor and Come Dine With Me play-along, turnover shows like Xtra Factor and medical shows like Surgery Live, and combine all the elements together to break new ground in cross-platform production.
“Embarrassing Bodies Live is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with interactivity around television. It takes emerging behaviours like tweeting whilst watching TV to a new level by enabling viewers to genuinely impact on the editorial of the show.”
Maverick TV has won awards for its work from the likes of BAFTA, the Royal Television Society, the British Interactive Media Association and even the Golden Twits.
It’s output is truly diverse, ranging from major returning series to single documentaries and films. Whatever the media, whoever the audience, Maverick TV will always bring innovation, intelligence, integrity and warmth to a project.
For more information on Maverick Television Ltd, visit www.mavericktv.co.uk .