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The BBC has selected Michael Palin to host a new travel series for BBC1. The new series centers on travels in central Asia and the Himalaya Mountains region.

Endemol UK has inked a creative development deal with chat show host and entertainer Jonathan Ross. Under this deal, Ross will create, pitch and produce entertainment ideas for the UK and global markets through his firm Hot Sauce TV.

Television production company RDF has made new children adventure series for BBC. This series will be aired all three prime channels of BBC.

Top broadcasting companies in United Kingdom are fighting for the rights of various television programs concepts, as the first bidding started in UK. The broadcasting industry is expecting quality television concepts, which can improve the television audience share of industry.

UK-based producer Power has signed a co-production deal with Germany's Tele Munchen Gruppe worth 15 million euro. The deal will involve the production of nine mini-series over three years, including a follow-up to ITV1's 'Flood,' entitled 'Fire.' Other insights on the deal are presented.

Love West Productions has been commissioned by BBC2 to produce 'The Generation Gap,' a series that will send a group of young people into an old people's home. The show will seek to convince the young people that old people should not be left in such facilities. Plans for the show are discussed.

Channel 4 has signed a three-year contract with co-producers Videotext Communications and Picture House TV, which will see that history series 'Time Team' will air until 2013. However, the show's budget has been cut by around 15% and production will move to a new office in Cardiff in April 2010. Other plans for the show are discussed.

ITV1 has commissioned Maverick Television to produce 'Children's Hospital,' a 30-minute documentary series that will look at life in the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. It is the first primetime commission of Maverick from the network. Production plans for the show are also discussed.

The BBC has commissioned UK production company Wall to Wall 40 hours of content, which includes a six-part series about the cleaning of a National Trust property entitled 'The Big Spring Clean.' The deal, which is reportedly worth 18 million pounds sterling, also includes new episodes of 'Who Do You Think You Are' and 'New Tricks.' Other insights on the deal are given.

Senior vice-president of original productions Finn Arnesen has announced that he will step down from his position at Turner Broadcasting. Meanwhile, the company's European animation studio has won its first-ever commission, animated sitcom 'The Amazing World of Gumball,' through the efforts of Arnesen. Other insights on Arnesen and the project are given.

Entertainment executives at BBC have expressed disappointment after the corporation decided to hand the production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Wizard of Oz' TV show. The show is in a search-for-a-star format and the BBC's decision was based on various factors, such as Webber's contract with the corporation. Other insights on the issue are given.

Independent television production company Rain Media has won its first commission: the production of 'Restaurant in Our Living Room' for Virgin 1. The show will challenge two pairs of food fanatics to create the ultimate professional dining room in their home, and the winner will get the chance to eat in any restaurant in the world. Plans for the show are also detailed.

The History Channel has signed a co-production deal with ITV1 for 'Outbreak,' a 60-minute documentary about the first 24 hours after the outbreak of World War II. The move is part of the channel's strategy to team up with other UK broadcasters for large-scale documentaries. Other insights on the deal, as well as on the History Channel's partnerships, are given.

Production company Bwark has been given the go signal by BBC2 to produce a full 6 x 30-minute series of its pilot comedy with a working title, 'The Scum Also Rises.' Adam Buxton and Iain Lee will lead the cast of the show, which is set in an advertising agency called HHH&H. Other features of the show are discussed.

Renegade Pictures has been commissioned by BBC3 to produce 6 x 60-minute series 'Your Place or Mine,' which follows the 'Don't Tell the Bride' format. 'Your Place or Mine' features a couple who owns a home but do not have enough funds for renovation. The couple will be separated for 10 days and one will be given money to redecorate without consulting the other.

Whizz Kid Entertainment has been commissioned by ABC Entertainment to co-produce celebrity dance format 'Let's Dance' for ABC1. Whizz Kid will join producer Fremantle Media in making 5 x 60-minute series which will be aired in November 2009.

ITV Studios has signed its first Indian format deal and will be a co-producer for a version of 'I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!' for Sony Entertainment Television. The show will be produced in Hindi and it is planned to be aired in July 2009. ITV Studios' performance in production, distribution, and format deals is also discussed.

September Films USA has been commissioned by A&E to produce 'The Exterminators,' a show that will follow a family-run pest control business. Meanwhile, cable channel WE: Women's Entertainment has ordered a sixth season of hit television show 'Bridezillas.' Highlights of the commission deals are presented.

Pulse Films is set to embark on an acquisition and hiring spree funded by food and property mogul Sir Harry Solomon, who acquired a 30% stake in the company. The company plans to hire three new TV production staff and is looking to acquire small and medium-sized broadcasting outfits.

Shimmer Productions has won a commission for an original online drama for youth media magazine RWD, which combines activity across the monthly magazine and the magazine's website. Meanwhile, Hamma & Glamma Productions has hired Jeremy Richens from communications agency Fingal to build its corporate marketing business.

CBeebies has commissioned comedy show Grandpa in My Pocket from Adastra Creative, animated series 3rd & Bird! from US- based Little Airplane Productions, and pop show Carrie & David's Popshop from BBC Scotland. All three shows are slated to air next year.

Objective Productions has secured three commissions from BBC1 and one from digital channel E4. Objective has been commissioned to make Comedy Sketchbook and Catch Us If You Can for BBC1, and Dog Face for E4.

The British Broadcasting Radio 2 appointed Vic Reeves to host its comedy show 'Does the Team Think?'. The program is made by Open Mike Productions.

Television production firm Waddell Media has received new contract from BBC Northern for producing reality dating show. Named as 'Looking for Love' this series will have 6 episodes of 30-minute each.

Discovery Channel US has awarded television production firm Impossible Pictures a new contract for producing unique series on science and extreme sports. Named as 'Natural Wonders' this series will have 6 episodes of 60-minutes each.

Television broadcasting giant Five TV has signed an international co-production deal with Discovery USA, ProSieben, and France based TFI for making high budget documentary on Princess Diana. Complete details in this context are presented.

Television production giant Greenlit Rights has won commissioning from ITV for producing new comedy series 'Honest'. Complete details of this 6X60 minute series is presented.

Nicktoons Network, Nickelodeon's 24-hour animation network, has purchased 'Planet Sketch' animation series from Decode Entertainment.

The Tiger Aspect Productions signed a contract with British Broadcasting Corporation 2 to produce comedy show called 'Roman's Empire'. The cast and production details of the show are presented.

Five Life, female-skewed channel of Five, signed a contract with Shed Productionsto buy the rights to 'Bad Girls' and 'Footballers' Wives'. The terms of the deal are presented.

The Fox Television ordered Shed Productions to make a new comedy drama called 'Nurses'. This is the second US network pilot commission for Shed.

Next Generation TV and Film, production company started by the footballer Rio Ferdinand, signed an agreement with Whizz Kid Entertainment to produce a raft of television programs.

Television broadcasting companies Hallmark and ITV have signed new deals on television drama series for LA Screenings later this year. Complete details of this deal are presented.

Janice Hadlow, controller of BBC4 has given contracts for television program production on the theme of post-world war II decade in the United Kingdom. The details of the programs and contracts are presented.

FX has acquired TV rights of 'North Square' and 'Buried'. Channel 4 had broadcast the two serials and discontinued the same after only one series.

Mentron has got a two million pounds worth contract from the United States for science commissions.

IWC Media has won its first deal from the United States Commission to make a program that teaches rich kids the value of money.

The details on production of a family drama for British Broadcasting Corporation by Touchpaper TV in partnership with Robson Green of Coastal Productions are examined.

Sky One and Shine' s daytime show The Russel Grant Show has been given to Molinare. They are confidant about the success of the show because Russel is a performer as well as a therapist.

TWI has been contracted by the BBC to produce the latter's television coverage of darts competitions in the United Kingdom. The contract will cover events in 2004.

The long running Saturday morning kids show SM: TV on ITV will be replaced with a new show. Carlton has bagged the contract to produce the new show.

Anglia has received orders for its 'Britain's Best Gardens' television series from ITV. The series examines some of the most interesting gardens in the United Kingom.

Channel 4 has commissioned Granada Kids to produce an adaptation of 'The Illustrated Mum' children's book. Michelle Collins will star in the adaptation.

Granada Television is producing a version of its 'Airline' television show in the U.S. The company signed a deal with the A&E network, which ordered a 10 x 30-minute part of the program.

Granada PLC has been contracted by ITV1 to produce an unusual reality television show. The 'Man Versus Beast' show will feature humans against animals in several?physical challenges.