The BBC has placed its largest order with STV for episodes of Antiques Road Trip and its celebrity spin-off series.
A further four series of the main programme have been commissioned for BBC One and a further two of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip for BBC Two. The latest commissions will take the tally for Antiques Road Trip to 24 series and the celebrity version – which has starred personalities including Tom Conti, Judy Murray and Emeli Sandé – to 11 series.
David Mortimer, managing director of STV Productions, said: “ Antiques Road Trip and its celebrity sister series perform incredibly well for the BBC and we’re thrilled to have secured a 140-episode deal over two years.
"As we continue with our growth strategy to establish STV Productions as a major player in the independent production sector, this significant commission for two returning series that never fail to deliver ratings, is fantastic news.”
Craig Hunter, the newly appointed factual creative director at STV Productions, added: “It gives us the opportunity to develop new talent both on and off screen – vital for the creative industry in Scotland. Antiques Road Trip and Celebrity Antiques Road Trip are the engine room to our production company, and I’m thrilled to be leading them into this next phase of their production life cycle.”
Meanwhile, Hunter has made a brace of appointments to his senior team. Former Antiques Road Trip senior producer John Redshaw steps up to the role of daytime executive producer at STV Productions, while Lucy Hazzard – previously head of factual development at Alan Clements’ Glasgow-based Two Rivers Media – becomes STV Productions’ development director.
