Monkey Thieves Steal Second Series

Off the Fence Productions (OTF) has been commissioned by National Geographic Channels International and France 5, France Televisions Group, to produce the second instalment of the hit series Monkey Thieves.
The commission, which will be available in HD, is produced by OTF's Bristol office and will continue to follow the mischievous and daring troop of macaques that were featured in the original series.
Season two of Monkey Thieves once again travels to north-western India to join the notorious Galta Gang, a 60-strong monkey troop who live in a Hindu Temple on the outskirts of Jaipur.
The troop has peaked in numbers and food handouts from pilgrims have dropped off because of the credit crunch.
It's time for drastic action, so the troop splits into two, and the newly formed splinter group are ousted from the temple and must search the streets of Jaiput for a new home.
Allison Bean, MD of OTF Bristol, has spearheaded the first and second series, which uses HD cameras to capture the amazing footage of these creatures in their natural habitat. The new series builds on the success of the first Monkey Thieves, which won awards including Best Editing for a Documentary at the 2008 Royal Television Society Craft and Design Awards and was a finalist for a Series Award at The International Wildlife Film Festival this year.
Allison Bean said: "Off the Fence is delighted to be commissioned for a second series of Monkey Thieves and once again be working with both channels involved. The show is a brilliant mix of humour and education, and we only hope for the same success of series one."
Carlyn Staudt, Senior Vice President of Global Acquisitions of National Geographic Channel, said: "Monkey Thieves has done extremely well for both National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild and NGCI is happy to offer our viewers a second season.
"The series offers the perfect blend of entertainment, key insight into macaque behaviour in a thoroughly modern environment and lively animals with big personalities that provides an ideal family viewing experience."
Laurent Flahault of France Télévisions said: "The first season of Monkey Thieves was a real hit on France 5 and we can't wait to see the second one, as it is expected to be even more thrilling.
"We were convinced by the fast pace and the modern way of story-telling of Monkey Thieves, with it's now legendary humour. It's an outstanding series that won't go unnoticed in a TV schedule."
Monkey Thieves is an Off the Fence Production for National Geographic Channels International and France 5. It was executive produced by Ellen Windemuth for Off the Fence and commissioned by Sydney Suissa for National Geographic Channels International and Laurent Flahault for France Télévisions. It is due to air in early 2010.
(KMcA/BMcC)