14 September 2020
UKTV has commissioned a brand-new observational documentary series (10x60') following a British police force like no other - the Royal Gibraltar Police. UKTV Original Cops on The Rock will air on the broadcaster's award-winning comedy entertainment channel Dave next year.
From the Marine Unit patrolling the coastline, to the Border Force and bobbies on the beat keeping the small enclave safe, this is a top down, never before seen look at a unique slice of British policing. The Royal Gibraltar Police provides an array of specialised expertise - from preserving security against a growing threat of terrorism, investigating murders, burglaries and fraud, to patrolling Gibraltar's international waters, airport, port and land border with Spain.
Cops on The Rock is co-produced by Rare TV and Wheelhouse Media and this marks the production companies' first commission from UKTV. The series is commissioned by UKTV's senior commissioning editor Helen Nightingale and ordered by Luke Hales, Dave channel director. Rare's Emma Barker, Rory Wheeler and Wheelhouse Media's David Gilbert will all executive produce the show alongside Helen Nightingale for UKTV. Hilary Rosen is head of factual and factual entertainment at UKTV and Steve North is genre general manager for comedy and entertainment.
Helen Nightingale said:
Rare TV is taking us on a fascinating journey with Gibraltar's Royal Police Force as it works tirelessly to apprehend drug smugglers crossing the Straits of Gibraltar, intercept oil tankers flouting international law, deal with juvenile crime, and prevent potentially deadly terrorist attacks. It's a compelling watch and shines a light on a little-known area of the British police force.
Luke Hales added:
I think Dave's viewers are going to enjoy this high octane, action packed series. Cops on The Rock will make for some captivating and eye-opening entertainment on the channel.
Rare TV's Creative Director Rory Wheeler said:
This is prime time access to a force whose jurisdiction covers both national and international policing and we're delighted to be making it with the UKTV team who backed it from day one.
Cops on The Rock starts filming today, adhering to all COVID-19 procedures and regulations. It will join other recently announced UKTV Original commissions on Dave including Mel Giedroyc: Unforgiveable and Adam Richman: Supperman, as well as returning series Comedian's Giving Lectures, Hypothetical, Sliced, Meet the Richardsons, and Expedition with Steve Backshall.
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About Dave
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Ever since it was knee high to a TV remote, Dave had an idea. It wanted to be the first place viewers would come for brand-new, award-winning comedy entertainment from the biggest and brightest stars and production companies in the UK. And in the years since, it has launched some of the most exciting and best-loved titles on TV, including the launch of BAFTA-winning Taskmaster. The channel's critically-acclaimed established comedy hits Hypothetical, Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier and Comedians Giving Lectures will shortly welcome the forthcoming Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable. And it's not just in front of the camera where the comic genius lies either, with a wealth of scripted treasure such as Sliced, the upcoming Meet the Richardsons and a first ever feature-length special for Red Dwarf.
Dave's not content on just making you laugh and share gags with your mates though. Expedition with Steve Backshall and Hurricane Man show off regions and aspects of the earth never before seen on TV while the resurrection of the hit series World's Most Dangerous Roads promises to test some of the UK's biggest comedic friendships to their absolute limits. Eddie Eats America and Big Zuu's Big Eats deliver mouth-watering food shows with a Dave twist while Red Bull Soapbox continues to delight with its boundless capacity for invention.
The partnership between Dave and CALM continues to grow, having launched the "Be The Mate You'd Want" campaign, the Conversations Against Living Miserably podcast and its first commission on the horizon, Comedy Against Living Miserably for three stand-up specials.
Reaching 20 million viewers a month, Dave's come a long way, but it's only just getting warmed up.
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About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 25 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers.
UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.
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About Rare TV
Rare TV is an established and successful landmark factual producer creating Intelligent, Entertaining Factual programming.
Rare recently expanded and now makes a broad range of prime-time Popular Factual and Specialist Factual entertainment. Working for UK, American and European broadcasters, current commissions include documentary and formatted factual series, feature length drama docs, landmark history, natural history and science event programming.