This brilliant new series delves into the high-stakes world of military and civilian pipe bands, showcasing their relentless pursuit of excellence.
The series follows the fiercely competitive selection process for the coveted role of the Lone Piper at the Royal Military Tattoo. It also follows the journey of new piping recruits as they prepare for their inaugural competition. With dreams of performing for the King, these novice pipers face intense training and high-pressure situations to prove their worth.
Battle of the Bagpipes also covers the ultimate showdown between long-time rival pipe bands at Glasgow’s World Pipe Band Championships. This event, known as the pinnacle of competitive piping, showcases the very best in the field.
Whether you’re a piping enthusiast or a newcomer to this unique world, the series promises to deliver thrilling performances, heartfelt moments, and an inside look at what it takes to be the best in the piping world.
This new series is literally pipe-tastic!
Manus Fraser worked on Episode two. He said the series is “full of fascinating facts and engaging characters. Ever wondered what happens to your teeth if you try and play the bag pipes while riding a camel? See episode two for details”. We’re intrigued and will be tuning in to find out!
Battle of the Bagpipes starts Wednesday 3rd July for Sky Arts
Sprint: Worlds Fastest Humans. Box to Box Films for Netflix. Official Trailer
This brand new documentary series made by Box to Box Films for Netflix offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the mental toughness of sprinters who dedicate their lives to breaking records.
With Usain Bolt retired, who will become the new face of speed? From Sha’Carri Richardson to Noah Lyles, this series presents the full story of humanity’s quest to be the fastest on the planet. Witness the intense drama, motivation, and personalities behind the relentless pursuit of victory. The series delves deep into the psyches of elite competitors striving to be the fastest and what is required as these sprinters devote their entire lives to crossing the finish line in record time, where their professional futures are decided in mere fractions of a second.
Jake Lofdahl was one of the editors on the series and helped with Ep 1. We chatted to him about his experience working on this episode and he had some interesting insights;
Working on Ep101 on any series is always about making an impact. The pressure is on to prove to everyone involved that they’ve got something great which is worth all the time and money they’ve invested up to this point. From a storytelling point of view the beauty of working on this series is there’s very little explanation of the sport required, which meant we could focus on nailing an intro that grabs the viewer and then letting the characters develop. I personally found the main protagonists in this series to be deeply interesting, they’re often singularly confident, extraordinarily competitive and focused to the extreme. Added to that they’re in a sport where they get very few chances to perform on the stage they dream of, and the races are over in seconds. With the Olympics on the horizon it all meant the stakes were high and there was tons of drama on and off the running track. Box to Box did a great job of securing access and gaining the confidence of the athletes allowing them to be natural – and it also has to be said that physically they are all in phenomenal shape, which easily elevated the standard ‘training’ shots! I’m personally eagerly awaiting the chance to see the other eps and bring on season 2!!
Sprint: World’s Fastest Humans drops on Netflix on 2nd July
The Faction team attended The Sheffield Documentary Festival once again this year, maintaining their annual tradition. The event proved to be as brilliant as ever, featuring a few days packed with captivating documentaries and insightful industry discussions.
Katie’s top pick was The Accidental President . This documentary follows Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who put her name on the ballot alongside authoritarian Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko and won. Director’s Mike Lerner and Martin Herring were given unfettered access during Tsikhanouskaya’s campaign, her subsequent exile from Belarus and her navigation through the EU and global political landscape as her country’s legitimately elected leader.
Katie also enjoyed the BBC Interview: Simon Reeve in Conversation where the author, explorer and presenter spoke about his career. Chaired by Jack Bootle ( BBC Head of Specialist Factual Commissioning).
Satu enjoyed the Industry Session: Backing British Storytelling: Meet the BBC Unscripted Commissioners. Where the commissioners from the unscripted team Clare Sillery (Head of Commissioning, Documentaries), Jack Bootle, (Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual), Gian Quaglieni, (Commissioning Editor, Current Affairs), Suzy Klein,(Head of Commissioning, Arts and Classical Music) and Emma Hindley, (Lead Commissioning Editor, Storyville) talked about their upcoming projects and how the BBC is backing British storytelling across its documentary films.
In the Alternative Realities exhibition we found Satu lying on a bed on 1000 silicone fingers (yes real life). In addition both Katie and Satu were spotted with some strange masks on, apparently to imitate how bats see and hear the world..!
Comedian Bill Bailey unleashes his musical passion as he speaks to the next generation of young musicians and explores what is required to maintain musical instruments in the UK.
We spoke to editor Matt Scragg who worked on this special episode. Matt mentioned that he also worked with editor Phil Diprose and Edit Producer Ann Wilson on the episode but he concentrated on parts 2 and 3. Matt said:
“It was a very challenging first week because Phil and I had to first work out the best way of dividing the workload between us and then cut down many hours of interviews and workshops into short 4-8 minute scenes. It was a well shot project though, so it all came together in the final two weeks pretty smoothly – and Sky Arts are a dream to work for so the final review process was a pleasure.”
Matt also mentioned “I think this Special is a bit different from the normal Bill Bailey’s Master Crafters episodes that have come before in that Bill is a musician himself, so he was able to get involved on a more personal level”.
The programme coincides with Sky’s Access All Arts Week, a free learning programme which aims to help teachers celebrate the arts. It will air 20th June at 8pm on Sky Arts, Freeview Channel 36 and NOW.
Tour de France: Unchained offers an in-depth look at the iconic race, following everyone from riders to team directors. This new season delves into the 21 stages of the 2023 Tour de France, highlighting the challenges of this globally renowned event, which is broadcast in 190 territories. Viewers will witness the behind-the-scenes drama amid scandals, strategic maneuvers, and the quest for glory. The series captures the intense battle for the yellow jersey, showcasing dramatic falls, historic breakaways, and the relentless drive to win.
Speaking of behind-the-scenes drama, Editor Charlie Webb said “ I had a great time working across the series and on episode 2. I would say this series has some of the best behind the scenes access I’ve ever worked on, really gripping stories and exciting races”. He also said “I think it’s one of the best sport series box to box have ever done”.
Jayesh Lathia who worked on Series 1 as well as this series said “ Another season of Tour De France and this year the stakes were even higher! As always, weaving the emotional highs and lows of the riders remained central to the storytelling. My episode had a unique twist with a doping story that required careful balance in the edit to ensure that both sides of the controversial story were fairly portrayed.’
All episodes will debut on Netflix Tuesday 11th June.
Dragonfly Film & Television for Really and Discovery+
The Face Doctors: Dragonfly Film & Television
Ben Burgess and Dermot O’Brien were two of the editors on the team for this new medical documentary series that follows the incredible work of a group of world-leading NHS doctors at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Each week this new series will follow the journeys of patients whose lives have been changed as a result of flesh-eating infections, challenging genetic conditions, and life-changing traumas. The procedures aren’t just about fixing broken bodies, but restoring identities, mending confidence, and helping patients and families rebuild their lives. The series covers touching moments as patients see their new reflections, and as families share their joy.
We caught up with Ben Burgess who worked on two episodes. He said “I really enjoyed working on Face Doctors. It was a fascinating (and somewhat disturbing) subject. It was amazing to see how brilliant the facial surgeons and prosthetists of Addenbrookes Hospital at Cambridge University are, and how much they can transform people’s lives for the better. It’s tricky trying to make an entertaining watch out of something gruesome and harrowing. But we got there in the end”.
Dermot O’Brien also shared his experience working on the show. “This was a challenging but rewarding project to work on. In the edit we had to get the right balance between the patients’ backstories and emotional journeys, and the technical aspects of complex surgical procedures – as told by the doctors – which often required crunching down up to 10 hours of surgery into 7 or 8 minutes of screen time. As this is a new series the edit teams and producers worked hard to get the style, tone and pace right for the channel. Ultimately the rewarding side was in getting to showcase the amazing life-changing work that the surgeons and prosthetics team at Addenbrookes Hospital do”.
The Face Doctors starts this Wednesday 15th May 9pm on Really and streaming on Discovery+
Billed as Britain’s own version of Netflix’s hit show Selling Sunset, Buying London is a Netflix series following estate agent boss Daniel Daggers and his uber-competitive team.
Enter the world of opulent real estate where the series delves into the inner workings of one of the city’s premier luxury estate agencies. Join Daniel Daggers, the formidable leader of DDRE Global, and his driven team as they navigate the competitive landscape, striving to broker deals for London’s most extravagant properties. The series transports viewers from the affluent streets of Mayfair to the prestigious pockets of Holland Park in West London.
We caught up with Gruff who edited across several episodes, he told us we can expect lots of drama in the series and it will definitely satisfy fans of shows like Selling Sunset. We look forward to watching this one!
ITV Exec Producers: Ceri Aston and Elen Moore Editors: Simon Bennett ( Episodes 2 and 5) Harry Anstey ( Pre-titles)
For The Love of Dogs with Alison Hammond: ITV
Alison Hammond follows in the footsteps of the late Paul O’Grady as she heads behind the scenes at Battersea Dogs Home. With the number of abandoned and stray dogs at an all-time high, it’s an increasingly important task.
In Episode 2 which Simon Bennett edited, Hammond meets a lurcher who was found tied up in a graveyard and now needs emergency surgery. An anxious French bulldog is struggling to breathe, while an extremely matted bichon frisé desperately requires a haircut! Simon said, “Alison Hammond has done an amazing job and she’s so genuine and funny, Paul o Grady would be proud”.
For the Love of Dogs with Alison Hammond continues Tuesday 8pm on ITV
Nish and Josh are back for another round of adventures across the UK. They once again hop from one local newspaper job to another, immersing themselves in different communities. They are on the hunt for real-life tales that’ll make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. They’re on a mission to find best local stories, ones so good they’ll land right on the front page. In this series they concentrate on delving into local mysteries, taking part in unusual events, covering the burning issues of the day and they enlist a celebrity or two to help them out along the way.
Connor said “It was a lot of fun, it was kind of a dream team of people I’ve worked with before so things clicked pretty well. They needed to as we only had a few weeks between two editors to do the final episode. It felt like long odds, but with the right elements in place, and we did it”.
Hold The Front Page will air on 24th April on Sky Max.
The nation has been deeply touched by the recent devastating news of King Charles’s and the Princess of Wales’s health struggles. However, amidst this concern, theirs is the blossoming relationship between Charles and Kate. This documentary celebrates the special bond that has grown between the royal pair, from their shared passions to their courageous battle against cancer. In this program, those with intimate knowledge of the palace and its workings unveil the private and personal tale of the remarkable bond between the King and his ‘beloved daughter-in-law’.
Editor Hass Azzoug who worked on the documentary said “Wow! What a tight deadline on “Kate & The King” that was a speed of light turnaround. The workflow was efficient and well-organized, thanks to SP Stuart Strickson. We began working on Saturday and successfully sent the film for online and dubbing by Wednesday night. It was a challenging project that required hard work, but it also brought a sense of excitement. The work hours were manageable until the final day when we faced constant changes from the archive finance, lawyers, executives, and commissioner… That day, we worked a solid 14 hours to meet the deadline. It was an experience and a half“.
Kel McKeown who worked on this one and who also recently cut the fast turnaround Channel 5 Wonka documentary expressed “This was a real buzz working on something with such a quick turnaround again – very similar to the Wonka documentary and a lot of the same people on the team. The team of people was great and we worked really well together to get it over the line in such a short amount of time. I also learnt more about working with archive specifically how to keep costs down and keep the lawyers happy! Also cancer is something that has really affected my life having lost loved ones so that was the main level I connected to it on – not being the biggest royal expert (although I am a bit more educated on that now too!)”.
Kate and The King: A Special Relationship airs this Saturday 6th April on Channel 5.
Congratulations to the 2024 Shortlist! We are proud to see lots of familiar names and projects in the shortlist. Congratulations to the 2024 Shortlist! We are proud to see lots of familiar names and projects in the shortlist. – Lockerbie: Mindhouse Productions for Sky Documentaries & NOW… Read More
Director: Sam Collins Exec Producers: David Gardner, Kerstin Emhoff, Nicola Howson & Scott Melvin Ventureland, Studio 99 and Buzz16 for Amazon Prime Lead Editor: Graham Taylor This compelling documentary tells the remarkable story of Manchester United’s unprecedented triumph in 1999, when the team made football history by clinching the… Read More
Editor: Charlie Hawryliw Exec Producer: Colin Barr. Expectation for Channel 4 Monday 29th April on Channel 4 Miriam: Death of a Reality Star is a hard-hitting documentary about Miriam Rivera, recognised as the world’s first transgender reality TV star. The documentary series chronicles the Mexican model’s groundbreaking… Read More
Photo: BAFTA. We’re bursting with excitement and pride here at Satusfaction as some familiar faces have worked their magic on shows that are making waves in the 2024 BAFTA Craft nominations! Let’s dive right into the lineup: Celebrity Race Across the World ( Studio Lambert / BBC One) has… Read More
Exciting news! The 2024 Grierson Awards are now open for entries and hold onto your popcorn, Satusfaction, are absolutely thrilled to announce that we’re teaming up with the legendary 2024 Grierson Awards as a proud sponsor! For all you documentary buffs out there, you know the Grierson Awards… Read More
