FremantleMedia has secured the global rights to Animo TV/Kite Entertainment’s Fittest Family format.
The international production company responsible for programmes such as ‘The X Factor’, ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, ‘The Apprentice’ and ‘Deadliest Catch’ is confident the Fittest Family concept can become a global hit.
Created by Animo TV and Kite Entertainment, the Fittest Family format is based on an original idea by Irish sporting icon Davy Fitzgerald and his business partner James Sexton. The six-part series sees twelve sport’s mad families compete for the title of the nation’s fittest family and a big cash prize.
Legendary Clare GAA manager Fitzgerald is also one of the mentors assigned to put the families through a set of extreme challenges. Other mentors include Olympic boxing champion Kenneth Egan, international rugby coach Eddie O'Sullivan and Irish Hockey star Nikki Symmons.
Commenting on the FremantleMedia deal Animo’s Adrian Lynch said: “We’re delighted to partner with FremantleMedia on Fittest Family. Their sheer enthusiasm means it’s in the best hands possible and we look forward to working with them on its international roll out”.
The show is co-produced by Irish Indies Kite Entertainment (‘Anonymous’, ‘Celebrity Bainisteoir’) and is the latest Irish format to be earmarked as a potential global hit following the success of VIP’s ‘The Hit’, which has been sold around the world by Warner Bros.
Rob Clark, director of global entertainment development at FremantleMedia said: “When we first saw Fittest Family we knew we had to have it”.
John McHugh RTÉ’s Head of Entertainment added “I am delighted that RTÉ Entertainment is becoming a home for strong television formats which have real international potential. It is testament to the format's strength that FremantleMedia will be taking ‘Ireland's Fittest Family’ out into the international television marketplace”.
London based FremantleMedia announced it will launch Fittest Family at MIPTV in April.
The first series of ‘Ireland’s Fittest Family’ is currently airing on RTÉ One on Saturday nights at 7.30pm.
