Red Sauce lands 136-hour Bargain Loving Brits commission

Factual label Red Sauce, part of Zinc Media Group, has been awarded Zinc Media’s largest ever commission. The company has won a multi-series commission from Channel 5 to make 136 hours of Bargain Loving Brits (BLB), by far the largest volume deal ever received by a Zinc Media label. The commission more than doubles the 54 hours it secured for the BLB franchise in July 2022, as well as the 52 hours it secured in September 2021.

The commission forms a two-year deal for the popular series, which is made out of the company’s Manchester base. The two-year, multi-series deal comprises 120 x 60 min of the daytime version of Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun, alongside 16 x 60 min of the peak version. In 2022, Bargain Loving Brits enjoyed a reach of over 22 million viewers across Channel 5.

The show charts the lives of the Brits who’ve swapped the damp and grey of the UK for a new life in the UK’s most popular holiday destination, Spain. Covering a cross section of ex-pat stories, these new series will continue to tell the stories of the much-loved characters from previous BLB series. For the commission, Red Sauce will focus BLB’s most-loved characters and the things they do which connect most strongly with viewers – from buying antiques to choosing caravans – across the sun-kissed coastlines.

Tom Edwards, creative director, Red Sauce, said: “This commission is not only a fantastic endorsement of Bargain Loving Brits but of our whole Manchester team. We are thrilled with this longer-term commitment from Channel 5, which speaks to the faith the channel has in everything BLB. This huge order allows us to creatively refresh our approach to the series and to identify and nurture production talent over a much longer term than ever before – of benefit to them, us and the wider industry.”

Ben Smith, executive producer, Red Sauce, added: “Bargain Loving Brits continues to be a huge hit. A commission on this scale presents a fantastic challenge – and opportunity. We plan to hone in on our most-loved characters and plot a way to reliably deliver a huge number of stories which still allows for the natural, real-life and beloved docusoap feel.

It’s a very exciting creative refresh. The three Bargain Loving Brits series fit so well together – whether it’s peak, daytime or the UK-based Bargain Loving Brits by the Sea which returns this spring. We are delighted with the popularity of the show.”

Both series of Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun are commissioned by Denise Seneviratne, commissioning editor, factual, Channel 5 and P+, who will exec produce the peak series for Channel 5, with Claire Zolkwer handling the Daytime series for the channel.