New commissions announced at BWPL

Under its Head of Programmes, Jannine Waddell, who recently left the BBC in London to join the family firm, Northern Ireland based Brian Waddell Productions Limited (BWPL) is going through one of the busiest periods in its 16-year history with a raft of new commissions.
'CarHunt' is a new-format series for ITV1 and marks the company's first commission for the ITV network. Fronted by News of the World motoring editor and BBC 'Holiday' presenter, Ginny Buckley, it challenges two pairs of contestants around the UK to buy a car at auction, do it up and resell it at another auction - hopefully for a profit.
Shot on location in London, Manchester and Northern Ireland, its producer is Maggi Gibson, former producer of 'Top Gear' and 'Holiday 10 Best', who has relocated permanently to Northern Ireland.
Gibson's arrival marks the company's policy of recruiting high quality talent to work on prestige network commissions. The popular BBC 'Holiday' presenter and new face of 'Grandstand' Craig Doyle is about to embark on a brand new prime-time series for RTE. In 'Have Chat Show Will Travel', Doyle will travel to exotic locations, including Barbados, Cape Town and New York, meeting up with international celebrities, as well as interesting Irish residents and visitors. Producer/director is Kelda McCann, who, until a few months ago, was producing ITV's flagship news and current affairs programme 'Tonight With Trevor MacDonald'. She recently moved back to live in Northern Ireland with her husband, BBC NI's Managing Editor - Television, Peter McCann.
The six-part series 'Innovators' for BBC NI examines developments in technological innovation and scientific entrepreneurship, originating in Northern Ireland but with worldwide application. It was produced in association with Invest Northern Ireland.
'Getaways' is the new title of 'Ulster Fly', the series recommissioned by BBC Northern Ireland, which travels all over the world with local holiday makers. The new co-presenter is GMTV's Ireland correspondent Emma-Louise Johnston, who joins Joe Lindsay in front of the camera. Producers are Sarah Reddin and Tracie O'Neill, director/cameraman is Bob O'Brien.
'The Road to Monte Carlo' (working title) is a landmark documentary for BBC Northern Ireland, in which rallying legend Paddy Hopkirk retraces the route of his historic victory in the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally. Hopkirk is joined by 'Top Gear' presenter Jason Barlow on the long drive from Minsk in Belarus to Monte Carlo. The programme features atmospheric archive footage from the Swinging Sixties, when the Mini was a style icon and is directed by Jon-Barrie Waddell.
'Top Dogs' is a documentary for BBC Northern Ireland, which takes a wry, behind-the-scenes look at show dogs and their devoted owners in the run-up to the Belfast Championship dog show in July. Producer/director is Edel O'Mahony.
(GB)