December 12th 2024.
ITV has just announced that they will be producing a full series of the BBC pilot, The Assembly. This news comes as a blow to the BBC, who had originally aired the pilot earlier this year. The show, which features a panel of interviewers who are autistic, neurodivergent, and/or have learning disabilities, had caught the attention of viewers with its unique format and star-studded guest list.
But now, ITV has swooped in and secured the rights to the show, commissioning a four-part series set to air in 2025. The network has yet to reveal the lineup of celebrity guests, but has promised that they will come from various corners of the showbiz world. Fans can expect an exciting and diverse group of stars, although the anticipation for their identities will have to wait for now.
In the original pilot, Hollywood A-lister Michael Sheen was put in the hot seat and faced a series of probing questions from the panel. The 55-year-old actor was asked about his marriage to 30-year-old Anna Lundberg, and how he navigates the 25-year age gap between himself and his daughter Lily. Michael handled the questions with grace and honesty, sharing that he and Anna had not been actively seeking a relationship, but love knows no boundaries.
The pilot was met with an overwhelmingly positive response, with Michael himself stating that The Assembly has received more attention than any other project he has done. He credits the show's success to its empowering and authentic portrayal of people with autism and other neurodiversities. Fans have approached him on a regular basis to share their appreciation for the show and its impact on their lives.
The Assembly is actually an adaptation of the French show Les Rencontres du Papotin, which featured high-profile figures like Killing Eve star Camille Cottin and even President Emmanuel Macron. In the French version, the President was grilled about his marriage to his former high school teacher, Brigitte. The show's unique and daring approach to interviews has clearly struck a chord with audiences, and the UK version is expected to be just as bold and entertaining.
The show's executive producers, Michelle Singer and Stu Richards, expressed their excitement for bringing The Assembly to ITV, promising a funny, naughty, warm, and smart take on celebrity interviews. They can't wait to get started on the show, which is set to air on both ITV and ITVX in 2025.
It seems like ITV has been on a roll with nabbing popular shows from the BBC. In 2016, they famously secured the rights to The Great British Bake Off, which had been airing on the BBC since 2010. The BBC's contract with the show's production company had expired, and Channel 4 offered a bigger paycheck. It seems like ITV is not afraid to go after big names and hit shows, and fans can expect even more exciting content from the network in the future.
So mark your calendars for 2025, when The Assembly will be making its debut on ITV and ITVX. And if you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, don't hesitate to reach out to the entertainment team at The Agency. They would love to hear from you and share your story with the world.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
