History Commissions Alaska To Produce New Factual Entertainment Series

History, one of the flagship channels of leading factual entertainment broadcaster AETN UK, has commissioned No country for old men (8x60’), a brand new series from the production company Alaska.
In the series, comedians and best mates Simon Day and John Thomson attempt to uncover and discover how our counties help define who we are….What’s the difference between an essex girl and a cornish maid? Do you call a ‘bread roll’ a cob, batch, a barn cake or scuffler? What’s the sexiest accent in Britain and what do Richard Burton and Wayne Sleep have in common?
These questions and many more will be asked and answered as southerner Simon and northern John travel from Cornwall to Cumberland, Surrey to Suffolk, from Herefordshire to Carmarthenshire in a historical and pop cultural romp across the nation.
AETN UK’s Vice President of programming, Adam MacDonald, said: “The counties of Britain are living historical artefacts and Simon and John's comedic peregrination through our county customs and characters will show how our history is alive and evolving all around us."
Alaska’s Paul Sommers commented: “We are delighted to have won our second series commission since forming just six months ago and working with the team at History is very exciting for us. Simon and John’s infectious friendship and hilarious on and off screen relationship gives No country for old men a really unique flavour that will be central to the series.”
John loves accents Simon loves weird history, John loves obscure jazz funk, Simon loves to eat and both of them are constantly on the look out for inspiration for new comedic characters. They are a genuine on-and-off screen double act and this is a unique chance to see two of the stars of The Fast Show and one of Britain’s best loved sketch shows, on a mission to explore, uncover, confound re-affirm or explode stereotypes on No country for old men.
Alaska’s Chris Fouracre, added: “Our ambition at Alaska is to work with commissioners and talent we like and having been at primary school with Simon I’ve had to wait 42 years for the experience.”
The series is commissioned by Adam MacDonald and Rachel Job, head of acquisitions & commissioning, History & Military History and will be executive produced by Paul Sommers and Chris Fouracre. The series is expected to TX on History in April 2012.
(BMcN/GK)