Love Island will return to CBS for a third season.

The U.S. remake of the hit British format has been renewed and is currently in the middle of casting ahead of a summer production in Hawaii.

The renewal was announced by Thom Sherman, Senior Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Entertainment during CBS’ virtual press tour event.

Last year’s show was shot at Caesars Entertainment’s boutique hotel the Cromwell in Sin City with cast and crew sequestered in a bubble.

Love Island, which is hosted by Arielle Vandenberg, shot its first season in a villa in Fiji but was forced to pivot due to the pandemic. The first season premiered in July 2019 and the second season started in August 2020.

The show features a group of sexy young single “Islanders” on a lookout for romance brought together in a stunning villa in a beautiful tropical location.

The second season, which ran for 34 episodes, was won by Justine Ndiba and Caleb Corprew.

It is produced by ITV America’s ITV Entertainment.

In ABC’s new game show “The Chase” — the latest American adaptation of a U.K. format, hosted by ‘The View” co-host Sara Haines — the trivia master that contestants face off against is described as a “ruthless quiz genius determined to stop contestants from winning cash prizes.”

Here, that role is held by three of the most well-known trivia buffs on U.S. shores — Ken Jennings, James Holzhauer, and Brad Rutter — thanks to their years of mastery of “Jeopardy!” and their participation in last year’s “Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time” tournament that proved to be a ratings giant.

On this show, three contestants get a chance to beat either Jennings, Holzhauer or Rutter at a series of fast-paced questions. The players are given an advantage of being a few steps ahead of the “Chaser,” as the trivia kings are called on the show, but they are also enticed with additional cash prizes to give up part of that advantage.

This gig is more high-pressure in some ways, even though the trio isn’t playing for any money at all.

“I felt like I was letting the format down if I didn’t know something, because I’m supposed to be knowledgeable and pedantic, and I can do all that, but even though there was less at stake financially for us as players this time — because we’re not contestants — it did feel like, ‘Oh, for this show to work, I’ve really got to be on the ball,’” Jennings told Variety at a recent virtual press junket.

“You’re kind of fighting an uphill battle as a Chaser,” added Holzhauer. “There’s a lot of pressure up there. It takes a good sort of person to be able to handle that and play through it.”

Jennings, Rutter and Holzhauer have a private group text going — as well as a series of public Twitter exchanges, where they have been taking good-natured jabs at each other since the GOAT tourney a year ago. That explains their conversational ease with each other on “The Chase” stage.

“I wasn’t expecting the chemistry to gel as quickly as it did,” said Rutter. “It felt like we’d been shooting for years on the first day.”

While one trivia titan takes to the Chaser chair, the two others linger backstage in the “Chaser Lounge,” watching the game and making cracks about their peer — and the contestants.

Holzhauer, a sports enthusiast and self-described “armchair quarterback,” said he was “unsure” of the Chaser Lounge as a concept at first, but soon came around to it.

“The idea of people offering running commentary, it’s kind of what the world of social media and TV shows and things like that is,” he said. “You have people who are there watching there with you, and they’re saying the same things you’re saying; it’s a fun thing.”

Quips Jennings: “If you liked us ribbing each other during the GOAT tournament, just wait ’til you see it now where there’s literally nothing at stake and we’re just doing it out of pure pettiness.”

“The Chase,” like so many other trivia shows, works in the shadow of the format’s GOAT: “Jeopardy!” The new series, which premieres on Jan. 7 at 9 p.m., starts out with a heartfelt tribute to “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, who died several months ago after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Jennings, who last year became a consulting producer on “Jeopardy!”, will serve as one of several interim guest hosts in the wake of Trebek’s passing. He knows that it will be quite an adjustment for viewers who have been used to seeing Trebek up on that podium for nearly four decades.

“I join with the audience in not wanting to see me or any other guest host out there, because in a perfect world, that would be Alex every night, that’s who I want to see,” said Jennings. “But it’s a show with a huge fanbase that counts on it every night as a ritual, it’s a show Alex wanted to make sure outlived him. So I’m not thrilled about it, but I’m happy to do my part for my country and my game show and fill in as long as they need somebody in the chair, but it’s a tough transition.”

Shot during the pandemic, “The Chase” features no audience, and the cast and crew had to wear face shields and masks when they weren’t on the stage. For Haines, hosting “The Chase” is a welcome respite from the often difficult state of the world.

“I was a fan of the format before I realized these three guys were going to be on it,” said Haines. “And then you dangle the GOATs in front of me and I’m like, ‘Can I still come to the party? I’m so in!’ I love a game show, I think it’s such a uniting format, especially in contrast to the job I do every day, which is an amazing job, but we talk so much about current events — whatever the state of the world is in that moment, you’re having to check in to things that aren’t always fun to talk about or hard to think about. Oftentimes escape is what I want and games are that for me.”

Plus, she adds: “It was entertaining as anything I’d ever seen to watch these guys and the speed at which they demolish trivia.”

ABC has handed its remake of British game show The Chase, featuring the stars of Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time, a series order.

As revealed by Deadline in July, James Holzhauer, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter are to star in the series, which has received a nine-episode order from the Disney-owned network.

The show sees contestants competing against a professional quizzer, known as the Chaser, whose aim is to prevent the contestants from winning a cash prize. Holzhauer, Jennings and Rutter will take turns as the Chaser. The contestants must answer general-knowledge questions in a series of cash-builder and head-to-head rounds before trying to win a cash prize in the final chase.

Sara Haines, from ABC’s The View, will host the series, which is produced by ITV America’s ITV Entertainment. Adam Sher, Bernie Schaeffer and Vin Rubino are executive producers.

The show was previously adapted by Game Show Network (GSN) in 2013 with Mark Labbett, one of the British chasers featured. It has aired on ITV in the UK since 2009 and is one of the channel’s most popular shows, airing in a late afternoon slot.

Jennings, Rutter and Holzhauer were the toast of television earlier this year thanks to primetime ratings hit Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time, which saw them compete in a first-to-three-wins series with a top prize of $1 million.

ABC’s head of alternative Robert Mills told Deadline in January that he was keen to do more with the GOATs and wanted to find “something that taps into what these guys are.” “Whether it’s something with Jeopardy! or not, certainly I would argue these three guys are the biggest stars in primetime right now, he said. “But you can’t look at this and not acknowledge the impact that they have had over the 20 years and this past week without saying, ‘OK. How do we tap into it’?”

Executive producer Simon Thomas breaks down the hurdles from a historic season of the dating show, which was filmed in quarantine on the rooftop of a Las Vegas hotel.After six weeks of round-the-clock filming and airing six nights a week on CBS, Love Island crowned its winners on Wednesday night with fan favorites Justine Ndiba and Caleb Corprew taking home the $100,000 prize. The two, who became the first Black couple to win the U.S. franchise, capped off a historic season for the dating show, as it was filmed in quarantine on the rooftop of Caesars Entertainment hotel, The Cromwell, in Las Vegas rather than its typical Fiji locale.

Following the finale, ITV Entertainment executive producer Simon Thomas spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about how his team pulled off the last six weeks, from quarantining its “islanders” and keeping backup contestants in nearby hotels to battling scorching Vegas heat and pulling off pandemic-safe dates.

How did you decide to do this on a Vegas hotel rooftop? 

Around April, we were sitting down and running through different variations of what the show could be because of everything that was going on. I started with a blank notepad and said, “OK, how can we make the show in a way that actually felt safe?” And I thought to myself, “Well you’d need a whole self-contained, quarantine-able environment like a hotel with something on top.” And that’s where I came up with the idea of a Vegas hotel, thinking there’d be day clubs and the Vegas hotels are closed and maybe they’d be interested in doing that. And then, serendipitously, one of the representatives from Drai’s and Caesars reached out to our president of the company about two weeks after I came up with the idea saying, “Hey, I’ve got a hotel here, is there anything that we can do for you?” And we went, “OK great, yes!”

How did you navigate having people live on a Vegas rooftop in the middle of summer?

It’s a club, right? It’s not designed to have people live in it. We have a wonderful production designer who is on the show, who worked with us back in Fiji last year. He did an amazing job converting it into a very livable air conditioned space, but of course there’s a huge amount of real estate in the sunlight. When we started shooting, it was the middle of summer; it was 110, easy. On the first day of our stand-in rehearsal, one of our stand-ins walked onto the astroturf and her shoes melted. So we thought, “OK, we’re gonna have to change the way that we set up this re-coupling,” and that’s why on the very first episode they were standing in the pool, which I thought looked pretty good anyway. It got better over time and we set up like different things like shady areas and all that stuff. In the end, they climatized pretty well so it worked out. And that giant pool for 1,000 people doesn’t hurt.

How did you have the islanders quarantine before coming in?

We consulted with our chief medical officer here at ITV and with our COVID consultants that we have to help us supervise. They basically determined that along with testing, a two-week quarantine is the best way to deal with it. Anyone entering the bubble in Vegas, crew or cast, had to go through that, and then they couldn’t leave without reentering that quarantine period. So what we actually did is we brought out large batches of cast and quarantined them before we even started shooting. I think it was 25 to 30 people were put into isolation in the hotels in Vegas. Our casting process was halfway through when this all happened, so a large number of the cast we hadn’t met in person — we video called them a lot and had spoken to them a lot but we hadn’t met them. So we brought them all to Vegas, and we sat them down and isolated them and then went, “OK, this is the starting lineup and these will be the bombshells.” So everyone had been out there for at least two weeks before they went in and I think it only added to their fervor when they went into the villa because they were so excited to hang out and have a fun time.

Did you have backup contestants in case someone tested positive or broke quarantine?

Yes, absolutely. For the entire duration that we were there we had multiple islanders — this isn’t that different from what we do normally on the show. Like last year in Fiji, we had a group of people and then some backups in case whatever happens, and then we would ultimately consult with those people. When I say backups, I mean people that we’re planning to use on the show. We would chat with him and say, “Watching the show, who do you like, who you not like,” and that would help us come up with who to bring in as the new islanders. Last year, we would have some people in Fiji and then some people would have been on a flight, whereas we actually just had them in Vegas this year, which allowed us to be more free with that sort of stuff. Not hugely different, if anything it was a little bit easier.

How did you plan COVID-safe dates outside the villa?

We want to simulate a real world experience. Everything that we did with our crew was bubbled. When Kierstan and Carrington went to the horse ranch, they went in cars driven by people in the bubble; they arrived and they were filmed and only encountered people in the bubble. Any sort of prep work that happened on that date location was done by people outside the bubble and then they left so that we could come in. I think the most extreme case was in the last episode, the grand dates, where we had some special guests, or a helicopter pilot — the helicopter pilot was on a testing regime, for example. We wrote out specific protocols for those specific dates and vetted them through our COVID team and made sure that we weren’t really ever breaking that bubble, because it has to be safe.

At the same time, we want the audience to have an experience that feels like normal Love Island, and I think we threaded the needle quite well, I don’t feel like we ever compromised the safety in that process. Anything that you saw that was like a horse ranch or a helicopter flight was a themed location and you know what Vegas is like, it’s a rabbit warren of tunnels and back doors and things that take you get from one place to the other. That’s why Vegas was such a wonderful place for us, we were able to move safely in our bubble to multiple locations that gave us an incredible array of backdrops and romantic places to go. When we first started planning, it was 100 percent shut down and they started to open up while we were in pre-production. But Vegas is designed for tens of thousands of people, so it was no effort for us to sort of move around in a way that we could still have our pick of the litter.

The contestants had been living in the COVID world for months, and then they come into the villa where they’re allowed to go mask-less and live normally. Was that a weird adjustment for some people?

It’s interesting, when they came in they were all bereft of dating opportunities and even larger social opportunities. They threw themselves into the experience with gusto in a way we’ve probably never seen because they were just so relieved to know that they were safe. And you could hear them talk about it, I think some of it even made it into the show where they’d just be like, “I can’t believe that we’re living this life, that we’re in this bubble and that we’re safe.” I just heard this morning that some of the islanders who left the villa yesterday have decided to hire an Airbnb for an extended stay in Vegas together for just a little bit longer. And I think that’s a testament to that feeling of being in the bubble and having a good time and knowing that out in the real world it’s not exactly Love Island right now. And if they can extract a little bit more joy from their summer, more power to them.

Were there challenges you hadn’t accounted for as you went through the season?

100 percent, it would be hubris to think that you’d figured it out on day one. Making a show like Love Island, which is a less than 24-hour turnaround, every single day for 40 days, is an incredible thing that I could have spoken to you about on any Love Island any other time, just about all the kinds of problems and craziness that occurs on a day to day basis. And then you throw in a situation like this, and it’s an x-factor, so we were just hyper vigilant. We took everything seriously, treated everything the strictest that we could, because we didn’t want to make anything that wasn’t safe, for our crew as much as our cast. It was definitely a learning experience every day and I feel like we’ve all been learning over the last few months. I think that it just is what it is, where we’re all learning and modifying our behaviors as we understand things better day by day.

The family visits are always a key part of the season, and you did them virtually this year. Did you ever consider actually bringing families into the villa?

Once we started down this path of building the bubble, we knew that we wouldn’t be bringing them in. There wasn’t any plan that thought, “Oh, once things get different in a couple months, we’ll be able to bring people in.” The bubble was going to stay the bubble for the duration of the show, no matter what. I think that what happened with the families was “OK, how do we keep this?” And if anything, I’d actually say that it’s sort of made it — better is a strong word, but it resonated more with people. I spoke to people after the episode and they related to that sequence more because we are all encountering our families over video chat right now, this is how we’re living our lives. And there is a cadence to those conversations, there’s a flow that feels like all of us. I think we’re all living at arm’s length from each other and it felt more meaningful to me.

Justine and Caleb became the clear fan favorites in the last few weeks, did you see that coming?

When they actually got together, it was almost immediate feeling that sort of rumble behind them. And, I mean how could you not, they were just a wonderful couple, there’s such a genuine nature to both of them that you just wanted to see them succeed. Justine obviously had a fan base from day one and I think she really went on that dreaded reality show TV word, “journey.” She had the true Love Island experience, which is it doesn’t necessarily work out on day one and that’s okay; we’re going to root for them and we’re going to hope that it does and when it does, it’s even better. I’m so happy for them and I’m happy for all the couples, I was just thrilled watching the show last night and seeing them together. That’s the way that we approach Love Island — we’re not there to manipulate and construct things to create division and drama. Ultimately, you’re going to get drama along the way, it’s young people dating, that’s fine. But you want to see happiness and I think we all want that.

What was the significance of having the first Black couple ever to win during this moment in the U.S.?

There’s no reason why our cast shouldn’t look like America, there’s just no reason in this day and age. We cast as diversely as we possibly can because we want to see different people on screen. We want to see people on screen of all backgrounds. It’s a wonderful bit of serendipity that it’s happening right now and I think that it’s important. I think you see for at-home viewers, it’s resonating with them and that’s huge, that’s fantastic, that’s all you can ever hope for.

These people have been living in a non-COVID world for last six weeks, how do you think it’ll be for them to come back to real life?

What’s interesting is we’ve seen some of this already with the new islanders and the people who came in later, they’ve gone back home and you see them on Instagram in their masks on flights to go hole up in different parts of the country together. You see Mackenzie [Dipman] and Connor [Trott] together, for example, and I think it’s going to be a hot second to adjust back to normal life. It always is — you come back from the best summer of your life back to normal life, and I think probably even more so this year. It’s going to take a minute but if they can extend their moment of fun and happiness for just one minute longer, good on them because we all deserve a little bit of happiness wherever we can find it right now.

Interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

As part of Fox’s TCA press tour held Tuesday (Aug.8), the network announced it has ordered the new singing competition series The Four from Armoza Formats.

The Israeli producer-distributor launched the shiny-floor studio entertainment show in March under the name The Final Four. It was picked up by French production company Satisfaction in April.

Variety reported earlier this year that Fox accelerated development of the series in May, after ABC closed an agreement with producers FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment, a division of Core Media Group, to revive the series for its 2017/18 season. Fox cancelled the long-running singing competition show in 2016, after having been on the air since 2002.

Unlike many competition shows, The Four begins where some others end: with the four finalists.

Four talented and competitive singers – chosen by a panel of music industry experts – will try to defend their spot as they are challenged by singers looking to replace them on stage. Each week, if any of the four are outperformed, they’ll go home and their challengers will take their place.

The contestants who are able to outperform their challengers are safe to sing for another week. At the end of the season, the contestants who have safely secured their spots on stage will face off against one another to be named the winner.

At stake is the ultimate prize: the panel of industry experts becomes key players on the winner’s team. This elite group of stars will help develop the winner’s career.

Additional information, including the expert panelists, will be announced soon.

The Four was created by Armoza Formats and is produced by ITV Entertainment in association with Armoza Formats. David George, Adam Sher, David Eilenberg, Jessica Sebastian-Dayeh, Simon Thomas, Becca Walker, David Friedman, Avi Armoza and Nehama Cohen will serve as executive producers.

More to come…

CNBC Primetime is catering to an audience of young professionals with series that embrace an entrepreneurial spirit.

During its presentation at the TCA summer press tour yesterday (Aug. 3), the network unveiled a series of new and returning shows with a focus on careers and business.

Among them is The Job Interview— an unscripted series, where each half-hour episode brings viewers inside the room as real employers conduct interviews with real candidates.

Produced by ITV Entertainment and based on an ITV Studios format, the 10-episode series is set to debut on Oct. 25 at 10 p.m ET/PT.

“There are few situations as tense and dramatic as a job interview. We all know how high the stakes can be because we’ve all been there,” said Jim Ackerman, EVP of primetime alternative at CNBC, in a statement. “Our primetime shows speak to the strivers and the dreamers; people looking to build a better life — and that’s what makes The Job Interview a perfect fit for our lineup.”

It is distributed by ITV Studios Global Entertainment with David Eilenberg, David George, Shawn Witt and Arthur Borman serving as executive producers. Jim Ackerman and Luke Bauer are the executive producers for CNBC.

Last year, ITV inked a deal with Canadian unscripted prodco Force Four Entertainment for rights to the Channel 4 fixed-rig reality series.

CNBC also announced two other new projects in the development pipeline: Empires of New York (w/t) and Buy Your Own Business (w/t).

Empires of New York is billed as a docu-drama series that interweaves the stories of New York’s most power icons over the course of the 1980s, revelaing how their actions shaped the city. The series is produced by The Intellectual Property, with Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman serving as executive producers.

In Buy Your Own Business, self-made entrepreneur Dennis Mulgannon will help people escape the rat race by buying the existing small business of their dreams. It is produced by Brian Graden Media, with Brian Graden and Dave Mace serving as executive producers.

Elsewhere, The Job Interview joins returning series such as The Profit, with entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis; outdoor investment series Adventure Capitalists; and Secret Lives of the Super Rich.

The network also greenlit new seasons of Billionaire Dollar Buyer, The Deed, The Deed: Chicago and American Greed.

Fan-favorite series Four Weddings is returning for a new season, Us Weeklycan exclusively reveal. TLC is now casting for the latest season, which features four brides attending and rating each other’s weddings, from the dress, decor, catering, music and more. The winning couple who has the highest rated wedding scores a honeymoon vacation prize.

But there’s a brand new catch. The new batch of brides will actually know each other.

“The brand-new season of Four Weddings will feature four friends or family members who are all planning to get married in 2017,” the network said in an exclusive statement to Us on Tuesday, August 1. “Each episode will feature four brides and shine a light on their friendships with each other — judging their weddings in different categories such as venue, food, originality and dress.” Each episode will feature four new brides.

The series is currently casting. If you are getting hitched within a few months of your friends or family members, you can apply now here. For more information, head to the Four Weddings Facebook page and watch a clip.

Four Weddings is produced by ITV Entertainment, based on an ITV Studios Format, for TLC. The hit show previously ran for six seasons from 2009 to 2014. The air date for the latest season has not yet been announced.

Israeli-based producer and distributor Armoza Formats’ current affairs game show format, The Bubble, has been optioned by U.S. prodco ITV Entertainment.

The Bubble (30×45) isolates celebrity contestants in a “bubble” for one entire week, with no access to internet, mobile phones or television. The contestants are then brought back into the studio and quizzed on the previous week’s current affairs and have to distinguish real stories from fiction.

The format has already aired more than 100 episodes in eight countries, including on the BBC in the UK, Croatia’s HTV1 and STV in Sweden.

“Armoza Formats consistently takes risks by creating high-quality and format-friendly entertainment content that explores cultural issues in unusual ways, ultimately resonating with audiences all around the world. We are delighted to continue to be in business with Armoza Formats and look forward to making The Bubblerise to great heights in the U.S.,” said ITV Entertainment president, David Eilenberg (pictured), in a statement.

ITV Entertainment – part of ITV America – is home to unscripted series including Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen, A&E’s The First 48 and the new Queer Eye reboot for Netflix.

Gordon Ramsay is set to open a “Hell’s Kitchen” restaurant in Las Vegas at Caesar’s Palace, Ramsay announced Friday.

He unveiled the plans for the restaurant live to his fans on Facebook, with the new eatery expected to open this winter. To commemorate the announcement, Ramsay ignited his series’ 17-foot signature pitchfork, transported straight from the set of the Fox show, in the center of Caesars’ fountains. This marks Ramsay’s fifth Las Vegas restaurant and extends his partnership with Caesars Entertainment.

“Fans of the show have been asking us to bring a ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ restaurant to life since day one, so I’m thrilled to finally be doing it here at Caesars Palace,” Ramsay said. “A key element of the show’s success has always been the diners’ experience, so we are excited for guests in Las Vegas to feel like they too are part of the show – flames and all.”

Situated on one of the busiest corners in Las Vegas, the restaurant will seat nearly 300 guests, feature indoor and Strip-adjacent patio dining and will offer a daily themed brunch, dinner and bar menu. It will take its cue directly from the eponymous ITV Entertainment and Fox primetime series seen worldwide by millions of viewers, and will shine the spotlight on many of the show’s cast/chef recipes and dishes featured on the show, including many of Ramsay’s signature dishes.

Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen is a partnership between Gordon Ramsay and Caesars Entertainment in conjunction with ITV America. The television series airs in the U.S. on Fox and is produced by ITV Entertainment in association with A. Smith & Co. Productions. Arthur Smith, Kent Weed, Kenny Rosen, David Eilenberg and Gordon Ramsay serve as executive producers.

Big Star Little Star’ will launch in May as the cable network sets its summer schedule.
USA Network is firming up its summer schedule.

The NBCUniversal-owned cabler has handed out a series order to celebrity game show Big Star Little Star, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Emmy winner Cat Deeley (So You Think You Can Dance) will host the project from ITV Entertainment. Based on the format from 12 Yard Productions, the series pairs stars and their kids as they test their knowledge of one another in a bid to win money for charity. Each episode will feature three famous families as they reveal behind-the-scenes moments from their lives.

The series is set to launch May 31 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and help kickoff USA Network’s summer slate that includes the debut of Jessica Biel starrer The Sinner (Aug. 2 at 10 p.m.). Joining the lineup are returning series Queen of the South (June 8 at 10 p.m.), Playing House (June 23 at 11 p.m.), Suits (July 12 at 9 p.m.) and Shooter (July 18 at 10 p.m.).

For its part, the long-awaited return of comedy Playing House will feature back-to-back episodes every Friday starting June 23, with the entire eight-episode season available on VOD starting June 24.

Deeley is repped by WME.

Leftfield Entertainment CEO David George has been tapped as president of parent company ITV America.

In the new role, George (pictured) will oversee ITV America’s creative development and production across the company’s production labels, pods and producer deals. He will work closely with ITV America CEO Brent Montgomery, to whom George will report, and ITV America CCO Adam Sher on development and series.

Under Montgomery, George and ITV America’s senior leadership – which includes Sher and Edward Simpson, EVP of business development and international – ITV America will continue to produce a broad range of scripted and unscripted programming, oversee strategic acquisitions and negotiate overall deals with pods and producers.

George joined Leftfield in 2010 as an executive producer, rising to become president of Leftfield Pictures in 2014 as the company grew from a single production entity into U.S. super indie Leftfield Entertainment, encompassing Leftfield Pictures, Sirens Media, Loud TV and Outpost Entertainment.

He served as a key player in the company’s rapid expansion and ultimately in the expansion and rebranding of prodco ITV Entertainment, as well as shepherding ITV America’s Red Bandit Media and Kingdom Reign labels.

George, collaborating with Montgomery and the production group’s senior team, helped build out Leftfield’s stable of production labels while growing the company’s programming to encompass all genres of unscripted content, including reality, lifestyle, docuseries, live programming and competition series under the ITV America banner.

As George steps into the role of ITV America president, the Leftfield Entertainment moniker will be retired with prodcos Leftfield Pictures, Sirens Media, Loud TV and Outpost Entertainment moving under the ITV America umbrella.

Leftfield Entertainment has previously inked a development deal with actor and WWE wrestler John Cena, partnered with Good Morning America co-host Lara Spencer to produced projects through her company Duffkat Media; signed a development deal with Real Housewives star Bethenny Frankel. ITV America, meanwhile, most recently secured an exclusive production deal with Chi-raq actor La La Anthony.

ITV America-owned production units DiGa, High Noon Entertainment and Thinkfactory Media will continue to report directly into Montgomery.

ITV America will soon name a new president of Leftfield Pictures, who will serve alongside ITV Entertainment president David Eilenberg; Loud TV president Nick Rigg; Outpost Entertainment president Jodi Flynn; and Sirens Media co-presidents Rebecca Toth-Diefenbach and Valerie Haselton, as well as Red Bandit Media president Helga Eike, Kingdom Reign president Carlos King and Big Energy president Mark Efman.

“To say that David George has been a key player in the evolution and growth of Leftfield – and now ITV America – is an understatement,” said Montgomery. “He has helped move the company to its next iteration of content across nearly every genre, working especially creatively on innovative projects and deals with Amazon and Netflix, including our recently announced reimagining of the iconic Queer Eye for the Straight Guy to be produced by ITV Entertainment and our partners at Scout.”

“It’s rare in our business to step into a job and find a home. Leftfield and ITV have created a shop where the sky’s the limit, and if you want to take risks, work hard and think outside the box, it’s an amazing place for a producer, and for an executive,” added George. “I’m truly honored by this move to ITV America and cannot wait to continue pushing our company forward.”

Veteran TV producer David George has been promoted to president of ITV America, Variety has learned.

George had previously been CEO of Leftfield Entertainment since ITV acquired the Leftfield group, which includes Leftfield Pictures, Sirens Media, Loud TV, and Outpost Entertainment. He will continue to report to ITV America CEO Brent Montgomery. In his new role, George will have oversight of creative development and production across the company’s production labels, pods and producer deals.

“To say that David George has been a key player in the evolution and growth of Leftfield — and now ITV America — is an understatement,” said Montgomery. “He has helped move the company to its next iteration of content across nearly every genre, working especially creatively on innovative projects and deals with Amazon and Netflix, including our recently announced reimagining of the iconic ‘Queer Eye’ to be produced by ITV Entertainment and our partners at Scout. Most importantly, he is a terrific human being and friend.”

George joined Leftfield in 2010 as an executive producer and rose through the ranks to president of Leftfield Pictures in 2014, as the company grew from a single production entity into Leftfield Entertainment, a moniker that will be retired, though the underlying shops will retain their names. George was responsible for programming hour growth every year, as well as the company’s celebrity-branded pod deals with such talent as John Cena, Bethenny Frankel, Lara Spencer and La La Anthony.

ITV America also will soon name a new president of Leftfield Pictures, who will serve alongside ITV Entertainment President David Eilenberg; Loud TV President Nick Rigg; Outpost Entertainment President Jodi Flynn; and Sirens Media Co-Presidents Rebecca Toth-Diefenbach and Valerie Haselton, as well as Red Bandit Media President Helga Eike, Kingdom Reign President Carlos King and Big Energy President Mark Efman.

Netflix has given the greenlight to a reboot of the Emmy-winning series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, with a fresh, eight-episode season set to drop globally on the streaming service this spring.

A new series will follow a familiar format – bringing together a team of five gay men who specialize in fashion, food & wine, grooming, culture, and interior design to deliver lifestyle makeovers for straight men in need of some help.

There is a twist, though. This time around the new “Fab 5″ will move from the Big Apple and head into America’s more conservative regions to do their work.

The concept, according to a Netflix statement, is to help foster unity in a country that is politically split.

“In a time when America stands divided and the future seems uncertain, a team of five brave men will try to bring us closer together with laughter, heart, and just the right amount of moisturizer,” the company states.

Scout Productions’ David Collins, creator and executive producer of Queer Eye, along with executive producing partners Michael Williams and Rob Eric, are once again at the helm, in association with ITV Entertainment. David Eilenberg will executive produce for ITV Entertainment.

The original Queer Eye debuted on Bravo TV in 2003 and aired until 2007. The show won a Primetime Emmy in 2004 for Outstanding Reality TV.

NBC has greenlighted the pilot 5 Gold Rings, a game show based on a U.K. format from Possessed, part of ITV Studios, and Talpa. The series will be produced by ITV Entertainment.

Played on an interactive LED floor, 5 Gold Rings takes its title from the rings given each player as they answer questions over five levels. Viewers can connect to the game via smartphone, playing along on a mini-version of the LED floor.

“5 Gold Rings taps in to so many of the reasons game shows continue to appeal to US audiences,” said David Eilenberg, President, ITV Entertainment (pictured). “With mind-bending questions, big shiny floor visuals and a ticking clock, this show offers a fantastic dose of fun, excitement and adrenaline for game show fans across the board.”

Maarten Meijs, Managing Director of Talpa Global, noted the game’s global potential. “The unique gameplay combined with impressive and unique visual questions is sure to appeal to the US audience and we’re looking forward to working with ITV Entertainment and NBC to turn 5 Gold Rings into the new hit game show.”

The game “requires pinpoint accuracy as well as critical thinking,” said Glenn Hugill, Managing Director of Possessed, “creating an amazing arena-like atmosphere that’s part big money game-show and part sports. Best of all we have discovered that, across the world, everyone loves the out-and-out fun of the play along.”

5 Gold Rings recently launched in the Netherlands on SBS6 and will air in the U.K. on ITV early this year. Co-created by Possessed and Talpa, it is the first format jointly developed by the two companies.

ITV Entertainment is headed by President David Eilenberg.

Fox has renewed Gordon Ramsay cooking competition series “Hell’s Kitchen” for a 17th and 18th season, the network announced Friday. The series will hold auditions for contestants for upcoming seasons this month.

Producer will hold casting calls for new contestants Sept. 12 in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta and Sept. 16 in Chicago and Dallas. The show is raising its standards for contestants going forward, searching for head chefs and line cooks with several years experience to compete under Ramsay’s scrutiny.

The show’s 16th season will premiere Friday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. The grand prize this season for the show’s aspiring chefs is the head chef position at Ramsay’s Yardbird Southern Table & Bar at The Venetian Las Vegas.

Last season, “Hell’s Kitchen” averaged a 1.7 rating among adults 18-49 in Nielsen live-plus-seven numbers, ranking 74th among all broadcast primetime entertainment shows. The show averaged 5.03 million total viewers, ranking 100th.

“Hell’s Kitchen” is produced by by ITV Entertainment in association with A. Smith & Co. Productions. It is executive produced by Arthur Smith, Kent Weed and Ramsay.

he 15th season of HELL’S KITCHEN came to an exciting end as host and Head Chef Gordon Ramsay announced Ariel Malone the winner during last night’s season finale on FOX. Malone, 27, a country club chef from Hackensack, NJ, earned herself a Head Chef position at BLT Steak at Bally’s Las Vegas, a total prize value of $250,000.

“I’m living proof that hard work and believing in yourself can make dreams come true” said Malone. “Winning HELL’S KITCHEN is an unbelievable honor and I’m happy that I get to make a living doing what I love. With this opportunity, I’m excited to create a better life for my present and future family.”

“Throughout the competition, Ariel demonstrated that she was both a leader and a true powerhouse in the kitchen,” said Ramsay. “She exemplified impressive culinary skills, and proved to be creative, ambitious and quick on her feet no matter what was thrown her way. I am thrilled to see her joining the team at BLT Steak at Bally’s Las Vegas.”

In one of the most dramatic seasons to date, Malone proved to be a consistent leader during dinner services. Her strong attention to detail and determined spirit earned her a spot in the finale, during which she went head-to-head with Kristin Barone, a line cook from Chicago. For the final challenge, both skillful contestants created their own menus, and lead a team of their past competitors through the most important dinner service of their lives. Although both contestants executed outstanding dinner services, in the end, it was Malone who was victorious. Her menu items included:

Appetizers:
· Charred Octopus with Manchego Croquettes, Radish, Red Onion Salad, Chorizo Aioli and Tomato Jam

· Red Romaine Salad with Candied Walnuts, Dried Cranberries, Picked Herbs, Point Reyes Blue Cheese, Grilled Asparagus, Wild Mushrooms, Basil and White Balsamic Vinaigrette

· Savory Cheese Cake with Wild Mushrooms Frisée, Truffle Soy Vinaigrette, Black Trumpet Mushrooms and Pickled Radishes

· Maine Lobster with White and Green Asparagus, Poached Crones, Roasted Romanesco and Lemon Vinaigrette

Entrees:
· Grilled Hanger Steak with Garlic, Rosemary, Roasted Cipollini Onions, Fingerling Potatoes and Red Wine Sauce

· Herb Garden Chicken with Carrot Purée, English Peas, Mint and Chicken Jus

· Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Bacon-Braised Beet Greens, Roasted Red Beets, Shaved Fennel and Beet Salad and Tabasco Lemon Vinaigrette

· Pan-Roasted Pork Chop with Potato Caramelized Onion Gratin, Roasted Apples, Black Pepper and Coriander Glaze

Desserts:
· Espresso Panna Cotta with Lemon Zest, Micro Mint and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

· Pistachio Sponge Cake with Currant Rum Caramel and Rum Raisin Ice Cream

HELL’S KITCHEN is produced by ITV Entertainment in association with A. Smith & Co. Productions. Arthur Smith, Kent Weed and Gordon Ramsay serve as executive producers. “Like” HELL’S KITCHEN on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hellskitchen and follow the series on Twitter at @hellskitchenfox and Gordon Ramsay at @GordonRamsay. Join the discussion using #hellskitchen.

In his first hire as president of ITV Entertainment, David Eilenberg has named veteran reality producer and development executive Jessica Sebastian SVP Development for ITV America’s in-house reality production banner.

In her new role, Sebastian will spearhead development for the production company, focusing on creating talent-driven series and innovative formats across a range of unscripted genres. She reports to Eilenberg.

Sebastian moves to ITV from USA Network, where she served as head of alternative programming, overseeing production on hit series Chrisley Knows Best, and developing and overseeing production on new series First Impressions with Dana Carvey and WWE’s Tough Enough. Previously, she was VP Current and Development at Electus. Before that, she served in development positions at the Style network and Original Media.

“Jessica brings immense talent, drive and expertise to ITV, having worked on both the network and producer sides of our business,” said Ellenberg. “Her experience and perspective are particularly meaningful at a time when our business is ultra-competitive but also ripe with opportunity. We are extremely excited to welcome Jessica to ITV.”

ITV Entertainment’s current series include Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen, A&E’s The First 48 and E!’s Rich Kids Of Beverly Hills, as well as upcoming spinoff EJ And The City (working title).

A rich kid is heading out on his own! Rich Kids of Beverly Hills standout EJ Johnson has landed his own series, as E! is launching EJ and the City, Us Weekly has exclusively learned.

The six-part spinoff, premiering on June 19 following Rich Kids’ season 4 finale, centers on the fashionably fabulous Johnson, who recently dropped 180 pounds and is continuing to pursue the next steps in both his career and his love life.

Johnson, 23, who is NBA legend Magic Johnson’s son, will be joined by his squad, including sister Elisa Johnson, LL Cool J’s daughter Samaria Smith and real estate development heir Sanaz Panahi.

“EJ continues to be a standout character on #RichKids, with his over-the-top personality and incomparable style, and now viewers will get a chance to follow him on a whole new journey as he embraces his newfound self-confidence and works to build a brand that lives up to his family name,” E! exec Jeff Olde says in a statement.

The spinoff is produced by ITV Entertainment, in association with GGTV and Leepson Bounds Entertainment. The executive producers are Gennifer Gardiner, David Leepson, Eric Kranzler and Doron Ofir.

EJ and the City premieres on E! on Sunday, June 19, at 11 p.m. ET before moving to Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.

ITV America has recruited TNT and TBS alternative programming chief David Eilenberg to head its ITV Entertainment banner as president.

Eilenberg takes over the post that was vacated last summer by producer Orly Adelson. ITV Entertainment is home to unscripted series including Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen,” E!’s “Rich Kids of Beverly Hills” and A&E’s “The First 48.”

“David is one of the smartest, most well-liked and talented people in our business. With a vast creative and production background that encompasses breakthrough international franchises for network and cable alike, as well as being an experienced and artful buyer, David is in a unique position to lead ITV Entertainment,” ITV America president Montgomery said. “This is a time when the ability to adeptly and sensitively navigate a complex and changing TV landscape has never been more critical. In this regard, David Eilenberg is simply a home run for all of us at ITV.”

Eilenberg had spent the past four years as senior VP of unscripted development for TNT and TBS. He spearheaded a host of unscripted projects for the cablers and also oversaw the production of TBS’ late-night franchise “Conan” and kudocasts including the SAG Awards and AFI Life Achievement telecast. Among the shows he championed for TNT were the Dick Wolf-produced “Cold Justice” and “Cold Justice: Sex Crimes” and TBS’ “King of the Nerds.”

Before Turner, Eilenberg spent four years as head of development and current programming at Mark Burnett Productions. He had a hand in the developing and producing Burnett’s roster of hits including NBC’s “The Voice,” ABC’s “Shark Tank” and Fox’s “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?” He was also key player in setting up integration deals for “The Apprentice” during his tenure with Burnett.

“Having worked for some of the best producers and executives in television, I know what a great opportunity it is to be able to join an international entertainment powerhouse with the resources, reach and deep talent pool of ITV,” Eilenberg said.

With his departure, TNT and TBS’ unscripted efforts will fall under the direction of Brett Weitz, TBS’ exec VP of original programming.

Brent Montgomery, founder of Leftfield Entertainment and CEO of ITV America, will be inducted into the Realscreen Awards Hall of Fame on June 9 during the annual awards ceremony in Santa Monica, California.

Montgomery began his career in unscripted TV via such reality staples as The Bachelor, Wife Swap and Blind Date. Forming New York-based Leftfield Pictures in 2002, he sold his first show, The Principal’s Office, in 2008.

In 2009, with the debut of Leftfield’s Pawn Stars on History, an industry-defining new franchise was born and Leftfield’s, and Montgomery’s, trajectory shot upwards, with myriad series and hundreds of programming hours added to its slate. In 2013, Montgomery completed the first debt-financing, television prodco acquisition with the purchase of The Real Housewives of New Jersey producers Sirens Media.

Montgomery subsequently formed new production outfits – Tiny House Nation prodco Loud TV with Nick Rigg and Outpost Entertainment with Jodi Flynn – and made them part of his own “superindie,” Leftfield Entertainment, which also houses Leftfield Pictures and, as of April 2015, Riot Creative, run by Stephanie Angelides.

In the spring of 2014, ITV acquired Leftfield Entertainment for US$360 million, a deal that the British broadcaster said would turn what was then known as ITV Studios U.S. Group into the largest independent unscripted production group in the U.S. Since then, the Leftfield companies have secured more than 30 new commissions such as American Grit for FOX; Alone for History; Blood, Sweat and Heels for Bravo; Cutting It: In the ATL for WE tv, and specials Billy the Kid: The New Evidence and Brain Surgery Live for National Geographic Channel.

As CEO of ITV America, Montgomery has oversight of ITV’s U.S. portfolio, with such prodcos as ITV Entertainment, Leftfield Pictures, Sirens Media, Outpost Entertainment, Loud TV, Riot Creative, Thinkfactory Media, High Noon Entertainment, DiGa and Gurney Productions under its umbrella. The company currently produces more than 800 hours of content and 100 programs, working in partnership with more than 40 networks.

“Brent’s ability to unearth characters and stories that resonate with audiences, coupled with his business acumen and sheer passion for producing, has made him a formidable force in the unscripted entertainment industry and in the television world at large,” said realscreen editor and content director Barry Walsh in a statement. “In bringing one of reality TV’s biggest hits of the past decade to the world, building an American superindie, and now, overseeing the largest independent unscripted producer in the U.S., Brent Montgomery has certainly earned this recognition and we are thrilled to name him Producer Extraordinaire at the upcoming Realscreen Awards.”

Past producer inductees into the Realscreen Awards Hall of Fame have included Craig Piligian, Stephen Lambert, Bertram van Munster, Thom Beers, Jonathan Murray and Mark Burnett.

It’s wedding season on #RichKids of Beverly Hills. E! has announced that season four of the reality series will premiere on April 17th.

The reality series, which follows a group of rich 20-somethings in Los Angeles, was renewed in December.

The new season will chronicle the impending nuptials of Morgan Stewart and Brendan Fitzpatrick, from the bachelor party to the throwing of the bouquet. The new episodes will also focus on the business endeavors of Dorothy and Jonny’s music career.

Read the full details below:

Los Angeles, CA, February 10, 2016- “For richer or for… richer,” the #RichKids of Beverly Hills are springing into their first ever wedding season. Premiering Sunday, April 17th at 10pm ET/PT, the eight-episode season will follow blogger babe Morgan Stewart and real estate mogul Brendan Fitzpatrick’s diamond encrusted road to the altar. E!’s cameras will capture all of the glitz and glam as they prepare to tie the knot in front of their #fabuluxe families and friends including Dorothy Wang, EJ Johnson, and Jonny Drubel. From bachelor parties and bridal showers to bridezilla meltdowns and who’s making the guest list, there is #nofilter that can hide the over-the-top drama when the #RichKids of Beverly Hills returns Sunday, April 17th on E!

The new season kicks off as Morgan and Brendan wind down from their engagement bliss and begin planning their dream wedding. However the couple quickly realizes that wedding planning is not all white roses and champagne tastings. Morgan’s bridezilla behavior drives a wedge between her and Brendan, leaving Morgan to question his commitment not only to the wedding, but also to her. Aside from relationship drama accounting for Morgan’s #SomethingBlue, the blonde behind BoobsAndLoubs.com will bring cameras along for the ride as she immerses herself into the luxuries of a blushing bride including jetting off for her bachelorette party and participating in a photo spread for Brides Magazine.

Bitten by the business-woman-bug, Dorothy is focused on building her brand as she launches several new product lines. Building an empire aside, after taking a much needed “guy-iatus,” the queen of social media is ready to dive back into the dating pool. However, she may have gone in the deep end a little too quickly when tabloids link her to an NBA star and she is hounded by paparazzi looking for a confirmation. The Instagram darling also struggles with feeling disconnected from her bestie Morgan. With the bombshell being caught up in wedding bliss, something Dorothy can’t relate to (#FoMo), @DorothyWang turns to her old pal Bianca Weiser Espada to put the “B” back in BFF but an old feud between Brendan and Bianca causes even more tension between Dorothy and Morgan.

After going through a breakup last season, Jonny is enjoying the single life and refocusing on his music career. He has engrossed himself into the music scene and has established himself as one of LA’s most promising new DJs. Yet, his new found passion leads to excessive partying and wild boys. However, a rude awaking rocks his world in the form of a health scare and Jonny is forced to reevaluate his promiscuous party-boy lifestyle.

Now finished with school, EJ is ready to leave the nest and figure out what’s next in his career. In addition, after once being celebrated for losing 180 pounds, EJ begins to face some media criticism regarding his weight and skeptical friends worry that he’s becoming too thin. With his fresh look and heightened self-confidence, EJ is ready for the next step in his life -he just needs to determine what it is.

Buckle up because it’s going to be a bumpy ride to the altar. Don’t miss the all-new season of #RichKids of Beverly Hills premiering Sunday, April 17th at 10pm ET/PT only on E!

Produced by ITV Entertainment in association with Leepson Bounds Entertainment. David Leepson, Gennifer Gardiner and Doron Ofir are executive producers.”

“For richer or for… richer,” the #RICHKIDS OF BEVERLY HILLS are springing into their first ever wedding season. Premiering Sunday, April 17th at 10pm ET/PT, the eight-episode season will follow blogger babe Morgan Stewart and real estate mogul Brendan Fitzpatrick’s diamond encrusted road to the altar. E!’s cameras will capture all of the glitz and glam as they prepare to tie the knot in front of their #fabuluxe families and friends including Dorothy Wang, EJ Johnson, and Jonny Drubel. From bachelor parties and bridal showers to bridezilla meltdowns and who’s making the guest list, there is #nofilter that can hide the over-the-top drama when the #RICHKIDS OF BEVERLY HILLS returns Sunday, April 17th on E!

The new season kicks off as Morgan and Brendan wind down from their engagement bliss and begin planning their dream wedding. However the couple quickly realizes that wedding planning is not all white roses and champagne tastings. Morgan’s bridezilla behavior drives a wedge between her and Brendan, leaving Morgan to question his commitment not only to the wedding, but also to her. Aside from relationship drama accounting for Morgan’s #SomethingBlue, the blonde behind BoobsAndLoubs.com will bring cameras along for THE RIDE as she immerses herself into the luxuries of a blushing bride including jetting off for her bachelorette party and participating in a photo spread for Brides Magazine.

Bitten by the business-woman-bug, Dorothy is focused on building her brand as she launches several new product lines. Building an EMPIRE aside, after taking a much needed “guy-iatus,” the queen of social media is ready to dive back into the dating pool. However, she may have gone in the deep end a little too quickly when tabloids link her to an NBA star and she is hounded by paparazzi looking for a confirmation. The Instagram darling also struggles with feeling disconnected from her bestie Morgan. With the bombshell being caught up in wedding bliss, something Dorothy can’t relate to (#FoMo), @DorothyWang turns to her old pal BIANCA Weiser Espada to put the “B” back in BFF but an old feud between Brendan and BIANCA causes even more tension between Dorothy and Morgan.

After going through a breakup last season, Jonny is enjoying the single life and refocusing on his music career. He has engrossed himself into the music scene and has established himself as one of LA’s most promising new DJs. Yet, his new found passion leads to excessive partying and wild boys. However, a rude awaking rocks his world in the form of a health scare and Jonny is forced to reevaluate his promiscuous party-boy lifestyle.

Now finished with school, EJ is ready to leave the nest and figure out what’s next in his career. In addition, after once being celebrated for losing 180 pounds, EJ begins to face some media criticism regarding his weight and skeptical friends worry that he’s BECOMING too thin. With his fresh look and heightened self-confidence, EJ is ready for the next step in his life -he just needs to determine what it is.

Buckle up because it’s going to be a bumpy ride to the altar. Don’t miss the all-new season of #RICHKIDS OF BEVERLY HILLS premiering Sunday, April 17th at 10pm ET/PT only on E!

Produced by ITV Entertainment in association with Leepson Bounds Entertainment. David Leepson, Gennifer Gardiner and Doron Ofir are executive producers.

ITV this morning officially announced that Brent Montgomery, founder and CEO of ITV-owned Leftfield Entertainment, has been appointed CEO of ITV Studios U.S. Group, which is being renamed ITV America. ITV Studios acquired a controlling stake in Leftfield last year. As part of today’s restructuring, ITV has acquired the remaining 20% of the Leftfield Entertainment group.

Montgomery will oversee ITV’s U.S. group of businesses, which collectively produce over 100 programs on 43 networks, the vast majority of them on the unscripted side. The list of the ITV American companies include production arm ITV Studios America, which will be rebranded as ITV Entertainment, as well as acquired companies Leftfield Pictures, Sirens Media, Outpost Entertainment, Loud TV, Riot Creative, Thinkfactory Media, High Noon Entertainment, DiGa and Gurney Productions. They will continue to produce under their current labels and with their existing management teams under the ITV America umbrella.

Montgomery will report to Kevin Lygo, Managing Director, ITV Studios. Also reporting to Lygo is recently appointed Philippe Maigret, President of ITV America’s scripted business, who will work with Montgomery. The top ITV Studios US Group post had been vacant since chairman Paul Buccieri left a year ago to join A+E Networks.

Montgomery is the latest reality producer to sell his company to a European content company and eventually become head of the mothership company’s U.S. outpost. The list also includes Cris Abrego and Charlie Corwin, whose 51 Minds and Original Media were bought by Endemol, with the duo becoming co-CEOs of Endemol North America and later co-CEOs of Endemol Shine North America. And Thom Beers of FremantleMedia-owned Original Prods. became CEO of FremantleMedia North America.

Several key executives Montgomery worked with at Leftfield also are getting bigger responsibilities at the umbrella company. Leftfield’s Chief Creative Officer Adam Sher will serve in the same capacity at ITV America; Leftfield’s General Manager Chris Valentini becomes Chief Operating Officer of ITV America, and Ed Simpson transitions from Leftfield Entertainment to become EVP, Business Development & International, ITV America. Meanwhile, Leftfield’s president David George will succeed Montgomery as CEO of that company. Valentini, George and Simpson all remain based in New York, with Sher continuing to operate out of Los Angeles.

The heads of all ITV America production companies will continue to lead their respective businesses, reporting to Montgomery. A head of the rebranded, Los Angeles-based ITV Entertainment, will be named shortly, with Sher overseeing it in the interim. Several executives are staying put. Oliver De La Hoz remains EVP, Finance; Ivan Garel-Jones remains EVP, Business and Legal Affairs; and Jenise Caiola remains EVP, Human Resources, all at ITV America.

“ITV has gone from strength to strength in the U.S. over the last few years both organically and through acquisition and is now the biggest unscripted indie in the U.S.,” Lygo said. “Bringing all our U.S. production businesses together, ITV America will build on this success as we take our U.S. operations to the next level and continue to build a global content business of scale.”

Selling his first series in 2008, Montgomery formed Leftfield Pictures the following year, quickly growing the business to what is now Leftfield Entertainment, which this year produced 364 hours of content, including hit franchise Pawn Stars, and series American Restoration and Counting Cars. Recent commissions include Killing Fields, Food Porn, Brain Surgery Live, Arctic Recovery and He Shed, She Shed.