French television network TF1 is adding the British comedy format “Taskmaster” and the U.S. competition format “Holey Moley” to its programming schedule as part of an expansion into premium unscripted entertainment.
Adapting ‘Taskmaster’ for French audiences
Created by British comedian Alex Horne and launched in the U.K. in 2015, “Taskmaster” places five celebrities in a competition involving a series of challenges. Julien Degroote, TF1 Group’s executive vice president of content development, stated that the network selected the format in response to audience demand for lighthearted and shared entertainment.
French television personality Camille Combal will produce the local adaptation and serve as the Taskmaster’s assistant. According to TF1, the format has been adapted in 15 territories outside the U.K., including recent versions in the Netherlands and Poland.
Launching ‘Crazy Mini Golf’
TF1 is also adapting ABC’s miniature golf competition show “Holey Moley” under the title “Crazy Mini Golf.” The French version will be hosted by YouTube comedy duo McFly and Carlito, whose social media presence is expected to assist in promoting the program ahead of its broadcast.
To manage production costs, TF1 collaborated internationally on the project. The network joined forces with ITV in the U.K. and Amazon in Germany in Portugal to finance and recreate the elaborate obstacle course used in the American version, which Degroote noted would have been too costly to produce independently.
Strategic shift in unscripted programming
The acquisitions arrive as French broadcasters face declining programming budgets, leading them to seek alternatives to expensive original drama series for primetime slots. TF1’s unscripted push also follows the success of “Qui sera le plus nul?,” an adaptation of the Norwegian format “Nation’s Dumbest,” which drew large audiences earlier in the year and prompted a second season commission as well as a U.S. format acquisition by Fox.