February
2019
RTÉ AWARDS INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS TO BBC STUDIOS FOR MY BIG DAY, HOME OR AWAY
RTÉ Programme Sales has announced a new partnership with BBC Studios for the international rollout of its new wedding-planning format, My Big Day, Home or Away.
BBC Studios has invested in the original format, securing the global rights to both the format and the finished programmes in all territories outside of Ireland.
An original idea developed in-house, My Big Day, Home or Away premiered as a pilot on RTÉ2 in March. The success of the pilot, which was produced by Irish indie Coco TV, led to a 4 x 60 min series commission for the show, which will air in Autumn 2019.
Nicki McDermott, Head of Formats, Entertainment and Factual Entertainment at BBC Studios said: “We're delighted to be distributing My Big Day, Home or Away and look forward to seeing how it entertains audiences both in the UK and overseas. Feel-good formats are still so popular, so it's great to have a show like this in our catalogue.”
In My Big Day: Home or Away, one couple is given the services of two top wedding planners, who compete to win the couple's hearts, minds and trust. One planner arranges a wedding at home in Ireland, while the other plans a wedding somewhere fabulous and far-flung. After considering all the pros and cons, the couple chooses the venue they prefer. The show ends with them tying the knot in their dream location, surrounded by family and friends.
Sean Mac Giolla Phadraig, Group Head of Factual, RTÉ said: ‘This format is one of those rare finds where the transition from pilot to series is a very easy decision to make. Audience responses were extremely positive making it a sure fire winner in our home territory and now BBC Studios' commitment to a global roll out is clear testament to its universal appeal. We look forward to proudly seeing this show on screens around the globe.'
In the Irish version of My Big Day: Home or Away, the wedding planners are Bruce Russell and Tara Fay. London-based Russell plans exotic weddings for the rich and famous, from royalty to mega celebrities. Ireland's most respected wedding planner, Fay's weddings regularly appear in Hello magazine.
Edel Edwards, head of sales at RTÉ, said: “Like all great formats, My Big Day: Home or Away seems so obvious you wonder why nobody's done it before. Whether you live in Dublin or Delhi, everybody loves a wedding — add the frisson of competition, a delicious dilemma and buckets of genuine emotion and who could resist? Best of all, thanks to BBC Studios, there will now be a happy ending for many more brides and grooms in many more territories.”