Quote:

---

ITV is to bring an existing Meccano- style set to the Manchester Central convention centre for its forthcoming version of US format Ninja Warrior.

ITV Studios label Potato has entered pre-production on its adaptation of NBC’s hit physical gameshow. It is preparing to deliver an 8 x 60-minute Saturday night series for TX on ITV in the spring.

Potato will not have to go through the expensive process of creating its own set and will instead use the transportable production kit from the Swedish and Turkish versions of the show.

Managing director Michael Kelpie said it would be shipped in from Belgium and can be constructed to Potato’s specifications. “It fits together like Meccano,” he said, adding that members of the Belgian crew will provide production and health-and-safety expertise.

Kelpie secured the rights to the show, which was conceived in Japan, from US distributor Bellon Entertainment, and compared the format’s structure to The X Factor.

Early rounds of the mixedgender challenge gameshow feature a variety of contestants, including those cast for comic relief. But as the competition progresses, the challengers become increasingly serious as they bid to win the series.

Obstacles on the US version include the ultimate cliffhanger, double salmon ladder, metal spin, slider drop and half-pipe attack, while the final features challengers competing at Mount Midoriyama in Japan.

“There are slips and trips and falls, but it is not all played for laughs like Total Wipeout. The competition gets serious in the final rounds,” Kelpie said. “We have already had a huge number of applications to take part in the series.”

He added that the show delivers strong family viewing in the US, and should appeal to ITV’s Saturday night entertainment “heartland”.

Potato is yet to finalise deals for the UK presenters, but will take inspiration from the way BBC1’s Total Wipeout was hosted by Richard Hammond and Amanda Byram.

ITV will hope that successfully importing the gameshow can help erase the spectre of Rising Star, which the commercial broadcaster pulled last year - months before it was due to go on air.

Kelpie said Ninja Warrior has a “proven track record”, having aired for six series on NBC, and has already established a UK fan base after being repeated on Sky channel Challenge. He said it tends to skew young and creates conversation on social media.

---