UK production group Boom Pictures, who recently acquired production powerhouse Twofour Group, produced the show. Lorraine Heggessey, who worked closely on the show, is the executive chair of Boom Pictures Group(The former BBC1 channel controller, and CEO of Talkback Thames).
BBC daytime commissioner Jo Street ordered the non-transmittable pilot, which was recorded in front of a live audience at Studio 1 at The BBC Wales Television Centre in Cardiff, with a view to take the series to Manchester's new MediaCity, should the show be taken forward to series.
The appointed lighting director to the project was Steff Jones, who worked closely with production designer Dominic Tolfts, and director John L. Spencer to produce the look of the show.
Jones explained, "Although this pilot was to sit in the daytime TV schedule, the producers wanted a entertainment glossy floor look to the show, with numerous lighting changes which reflected the different format elements.
"Despite the fact that it was a non-transmittable pilot, all the elements had to reflect how the show's format would look and work, which lighting was a big part of. Like all pilots, the biggest constraint was money."
Steffan used 8 VL1000 TS as automated key lighting, 35 Clay Packy Sharpy's to decorate the set, and to create the razor sharp moving beam effects, two of the new Robe Pointe behind the presenter to create a textured background, and 12 Robe 600LED Washes as eye candy and audience backlights. Steffan also used an array of Studio tungsten sources(Softlights, Fresnel's, and source four fixtures) in his rig.
Steffan's main console operator was Bill Peachment using a Compulite Vector. His gaffer was Roly Smith, who led a team of 4 technicians, and a BBC in-house team of electricians.
The executive producer for the BBC was Jo Street, for Boom Pictures Matthew Tune, Ronw Protheroe, and Liz Lloyd Griffiths; the series producers were Tom Webber and Louise James.
(Jim Evans)
