W hits the slopes of Val Thorens for brand-new Ski A&E series

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Wednesday 20 February 2019

UKTV has commissioned a brand-new series which follows the medical emergency teams at one of the world's biggest ski resorts, Val Thorens, for its premium entertainment channel, W.

The UKTV Original series, Ski A&E (10 x 60'), produced by North One Television, has secured unprecedented behind the scenes access to the teams who undertake lifesaving work across the winter season. The series will give a unique insight into the heroic pisteurs who carry out the emergency rescues on the mountains, as well as the daily drama in the medical centres and local hospitals.

Based in Val Thorens, one of the highest ski resorts in Europe with over 400,000 visitors each year, the dedicated team of rescuers and A&E staff encounter a range of emergency situations and challenges every day. From the unfolding drama of the 999 call from the black run, through to the race against the clock - and the weather - to rescue and treat the patient, Ski A&E will follow the action every step of the way. And it's not just emergencies on the slopes. The various teams are on call 24/7 and, like in any bustling holiday resort, face all sorts of medical scenarios from altitude sickness, stomach bugs and fevers, to the occasional, overindulgent après skier.

Ski A&E was commissioned for UKTV by Helen Nightingale, senior commissioning editor, and ordered by Richard Watsham, director of commissioning, and Steve North, genre general manager for comedy and entertainment. The series is executive produced by John Quinn and Sean Doherty for North One Television.

Helen Nightingale said:

We're excited to be working with North One Television on this ambitious new UKTV Original series. With cameras following every dramatic step, from the rescue on the slopes, the helicopter evacuations and transporting the patients to the surgeons in the medical centres, it really is extraordinary access.

Adam Collings, channel director for W and Really, said:

The access secured to the medical emergency teams in Val Thorens is fantastic. Medical series such as Inside the Ambulance are big favourites with W's audience, so we can't wait to see what characters and stories arise in Ski A&E.

North One's John Quinn added:

As well as the many medical stories, the whole behind the scenes operation in Val Thorens is fascinating. Many visitors take their skiing for granted but it takes a huge, well-oiled machine to ensure everything's running smoothly each day. We aim to capture a real sense of that vibrant, 24-hour resort - in addition to the human dramas unfolding within it - by following the ski patrols, medics and holidaymakers, along with other great local characters and some of the many British resort workers."

Ski A&E joins a growing list of UKTV Original shows coming to W in 2019, including Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, Dr Christian: Special Clinics and the much-anticipated scripted series Flack, starring Anna Paquin and Sophie Okonedo.

Ski A&E will air on W in late 2019.

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UKTV Original

For more information, please contact:
Kelly Phelps, Publicist, UKTV

About W

Sky 109/245, Virgin 124/191, BT 311 & TalkTalk 407 / On demand on Sky and Virgin

W is UKTV's premium entertainment channel, offering audiences a dazzling mix of UKTV original series; Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, Dr Christian Will See You Now, John Bishop: In Conversation With..., The Davina Hour, The Secrets In My Family, Inside the Ambulance alongside handpicked gems from the BBC and Channel 4 including series from Louis Theroux, David Beckham and Stacey Dooley.

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About UKTV

UKTV is a commercial broadcaster reaching almost 40m viewers every month.

The award-winning independent has eleven imaginative brands - UKTV Play, Dave, W, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food. These include the two most popular non-PSB channels in the UK and account for nearly 10% of the British commercial TV market.

The network delivers inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat, Amazon Fire and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories.

Now celebrating over 20 years at the forefront of digital television, UKTV - an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Studios and Discovery, Inc. - is proud to be the first British television broadcaster in The Sunday Times top 100 companies list.

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