Category: Factual & Arts TV; 91Èȱ¬ TWO; 91Èȱ¬ THREE
Date: 07.09.2006
Printable version
The Verdict, a major cross-platform event that will see 12 carefully selected celebrities sit in judgement on a complete trial, has been commissioned for 91Èȱ¬ TWO and 91Èȱ¬ THREE.
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Commissioned from RDF Television, The Verdict will focus on a highly contemporary and controversial case, based on evidence and examples from real life, improvised by top actors and contested by real barristers and a real judge.
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The celebrity jury, just like a real jury, will be made up of a wide range of individuals with a variety of backgrounds.
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The first celebrity juror to agree to serve on The Verdict's jury is former Conservative Cabinet Minister Michael Portillo.
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With the Criminal Justice Act recently exempting certain fraud trials from the jury process, and wishing to do so with several more, The Verdict will be a timely examination of the jury system.
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Viewers will actually be able to see how a jury reaches its conclusions.
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The 91Èȱ¬ TWO series will show the highlights from the trial, building from the prosecution case to the moment when the jury will have to retire and reach their judgement.
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The jury will be sequestered in a hotel and the 91Èȱ¬ THREE switch-over programme will show how the jury has reacted to the day's proceedings in court.
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A full interactive service will ensure viewers can fully engage with The Verdict, taking part in discussions on the messageboard, finding out background information, registering for email and SMS updates and registering their own verdict on the trial.
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The Verdict has been funded by the Think Big Fund, a pot of money set up by Jana Benett, 91Èȱ¬ Director of Television, to support big ideas across platforms and channels to ensure they have maximum impact.
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Richard Klein, 91Èȱ¬ Commissioning Editor, commissioned the programme for Roly Keating, Controller of 91Èȱ¬ TWO and Julian Bellamy, Controller of 91Èȱ¬ THREE.
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He said: "The Verdict is a really exciting new proposition that examines the jury system in a lively and accessible way.
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"And as a cross-platform, interactive event, viewers will really be able to get involved and play a full part in the proceedings throughout the trial."
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RDF Media Group's Chief Creative Officer Stephen Lambert said: "The Verdict is a fantastically exciting programme for us to be making.
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"Because it is a celebrity reality show with huge social purpose it will, for the first time, enable viewers to see how a jury actually reaches its conclusions.
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"The programme will be unscripted, which will be an exciting challenge for the actors as they are cross-examined by the barristers."
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The Verdict is due to begin filming this autumn and transmit as-live next year.
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The Executive Producer for RDF Television is Tania Alexander, Series Producer is Ros Ponder and the Executive Producer for the 91Èȱ¬ is Emma Willis.
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EDA
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