DCD Rights premieres Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab at MIPTV 2009

Leading UK distributor DCD Rights is bringing hot new kids property, Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab, to MIPTV in Cannes later this month. DCD Media-owned September Films confirmed discussions are ongoing with CBBC for a second series (26x30’) of the popular science-based game. DCD Rights will be pre-selling a total of 52x30’ episodes at MIPTV.

The first series (26x30’) marks Richard Hammond and September Film’s first foray into children’s programming. A co-production between September Films and Richard Hammond’s Hamster’s Wheel Productions for CBBC, Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab has performed phenomenally well for the UK broadcaster, establishing itself as the corporation’s No 1 children’s factual entertainment show by regularly taking a 22.5% share with 6-12-year-old viewers.

Richard Hammond is a high profile celebrity in the UK and is well-known internationally thanks to the popular BBC2 show Top Gear, which has been licensed to major territories including the US, Germany and Australia and is watched by over 350 million viewers worldwide.

In fact, Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab is proving to be a hit with the entire family – and not just the 6-12-year-old group. The series is set in a fictitious underground laboratory in the grounds of his supposed stately home. Richard invites two groups of three friends into his lab to take part in his crazy experiments and compete against each other to win prizes. The winning team take their prizes home, but the losers get to blow their prizes up.

Each show focuses on a different scientific theme or principle. In the mini science round, Richard’s former science teacher, Mini Miss (she is 65 years old but, due to a failed Hammond time-travel experiment, she has returned to the present-day as a 10-year-old) asks the teams to compete as they take part in an experiment. Each experiment is designed to have true “take away” value, so children can seek to replicate these at home if they wish.

After each mini science round, Richard expands on the theory by sending his Lab Rats (a team of poor, beleaguered technicians at his beck and call) into the field to test the same principles to the max with some spectacular results. These films have genuine “wow” factor and will bring the excitement of science to a broad audience. However, these are experiments to watch and admire from afar.

Richard is joined in his secret lab by Ninja Nan, who is in charge of security. She is a 70-year-old woman who may look frail but is, in fact, a fully trained Ninja. Also in the lab are the Lab Rats and Richard’s beloved car, Oliver.

DCD Rights CEO Nicky Davies Williams, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer international buyers this innovative and highly entertaining kids show at MIPTV. Richard is a much loved personality and makes this show an extremely fun and engaging programme to watch. The show has performed incredibly well for the BBC and we believe it has international appeal because of Richard’s profile around the world.”

Richard Hammond, added: "It’s been a dream come true: We set out to make a programme bringing science to life for children and it has worked. I am genuinely proud to be part of it. And if anything were ever likely to translate internationally, a programme bringing to life the universal laws of science is the one. Blend that with the visible enthusiasm of the competing teams and the thrill of watching them locked in what is always lively, and sometimes crazy, competition and I think Blast Lab has the potential to be a truly global hit."