The Big Deal
GenreReality competition
Created byMatt Laesch
Presented byVogue Williams
Judges
Country of originIreland
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producerShane Byrne
Production location3Arena
Production companies
Original release
NetworkVirgin Media One
Release4 September (2021-09-04) –
10 October 2021 (2021-10-10)

The Big Deal is an Irish reality talent competition programme which aired from 4 September to 10 October 2021 on Virgin Media One.

Production

Virgin Media Television announced The Big Deal in June 2021 for a six-episode run. The programme would be presented by Vogue Williams, and feature Aston Merrygold, Boy George, Deirdre O'Kane, Jedward, and Lyra as judges.[1] It was filmed at the 3Arena in Dublin.[2]

The series is a co-production with Fox Alternative Entertainment—the non-scripted production arm of U.S. television network Fox, and BiggerStage—an agency led by former managing director of Virgin Media Television Pat Kiely.[1][3] Fox's president of alternative entertainment and specials Rob Wade explained that it had become more cost-effective to co-fund an initial run of a new, in-house format in a test market with similar demographics to the United States, than to produce one-off pilots. He explained that its performance in Ireland could then be used to help pitch the format to broadcasters, such as Fox and other potential international broadcasters.[4] In September 2022, Deadline Hollywood reported that Fox was developing a U.S. version of the format under the title Fame or Fortune.[5]

Format

After performing for a panel of judges, acts must choose to either take a cash buyout and leave the show, or decline it for a chance to qualify for the series finale, where they could win the €50,000 grand prize.[6][1][7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Ramachandran, Naman (15 June 2021). "Boy George, Vogue Williams to Feature in Virgin Media's 'The Big Deal,' Fox and BiggerStage to Produce (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  2. ^ "TV review: Talent contest The Big Deal is anything but that". independent. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  3. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (1 March 2021). "Former Virgin Television Chief Pat Kiely Launches Irish Entertainment Media Venture BiggerStage (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  4. ^ White, Peter (8 September 2021). "Fox Looks To Ireland To Test Non-Scripted Formats That It Can Bring Back To U.S." Deadline. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  5. ^ White, Peter (7 September 2022). "The Big Deal: U.S. Version Of Irish Variety Competition Series In The Works At Fox As Fame Or Fortune". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Virgin Media Television announce new Irish entertainment show 'The Big Deal'". VIP Magazine. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  7. ^ Slattery, Laura. "The Big Deal and Redemption lead new season on Virgin Media Television". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  8. ^ O’Donoghue, Denise (26 August 2021). "From contestants to judges: Jedward excited to turn the tables on The Big Deal". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
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