ITV2 unveils its autumn schedule and a brand new look for the channel

Core Facts

ITV2 today reveals an exciting new autumn schedule, packed to the gills with exclusive programming including hard drinking off duty superheroes in its first original sitcom No Heroics, celebrities taking your holidays in their hands in CelebAir, the return of Billie Piper in a brand new series of Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and more musical send-ups in the second series of Katy Brand's Big Ass Show.

Leigh Francis also returns to the channel, encouraging Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton to take one another on in their new panel show Celebrity Juice, while George Lamb, Abigail Clancy and Michelle de Swarte separate the stylish from the style-free in The Fashion Show.

For a full low down on all the shows, please click here to view the press pack.

The launch also sees the reveal of the famous faces taking part in CelebAir: singer and presenter, Mica Paris; singer and Steps band member, Lisa Scott-Lee; star of The X-Factor, singer Chico; writer and presenter, Tamara Beckwith; presenter and comedienne Amy Lamé; star of Australian Idol and Neighbours, Dan O'Connor; singer and former member of Blazin' Squad, Kenzie; ex-Hear'Say member and husband of Lisa Scott-Lee, Johnny Shentall; musician and one-time member of So Solid Crew, Lisa Maffia; model Michelle Marsh and comedian and actor, Phil Cornwell.

The channel can also confirm the commission of Paris Hilton's New Best Friend (working title), a UK television exclusive which sees Paris hitting London to search for a new best mate!

Paris Hilton says "Everyone knows I love LA but London, watch out - I'm coming to town and bringing my fast-paced life with me. I'm in the UK all the time, but of course I can't bring all my friends, so I've decided to look for a new BFF across the pond. I need a best friend who is hot, who can keep up with me, and most of all, who is real and won't be a backstabber. I'm not leaving London until I find that amazing girl or guy who can meet the challenges of being my British bestie!"

In addition to the new roster of programming, the channel is receiving a fresh new look produced by ITV's in-house agency, ITV Creative, a revamped website, and is launching a new autumn promotional campaign to celebrate some of its biggest names including Coleen McLoughlin, Jack Osbourne, Katie and Peter, Leigh Francis, Abigail Clancy, Katy Brand, Holly Willoughby, Fearne Cotton, Matt Willis, and Emma Griffiths.

The website itv.com/itv2 also relaunches as a dynamic, modular environment on 20th August. Developed by itv.com with Netvibes, users will be able customise the look and feel of the site, adding their favourite RSS feeds, widgets, webmail and social networking sites to the existing ITV2 content.

The site premieres with exclusive widgets for CelebAir, celebrity gossip and ITV2 listings, alongside ITV2 feeds from Twitter, Flickr and Delicious. The new site will constantly evolve, with new show feeds and a changing line-up of third-party widgets to suit the needs of ITV2's web-savvy audience.

Quotes

ITV2 Controller, Zai Bennett, said "This autumn on ITV2 we're launching a stellar line up of programmes with some of the best talent on British television. Billie Piper will star in an all new series of Secret Diary of a Call Girl while Leigh Francis will be joined by Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton in brand new panel show Celebrity Juice. We're delighted to have such an amazing array of talent on ITV2 this season from Abigail Clancy, George Lamb and Michelle de Swarte in The Fashion Show to Katie and Peter in the next chapter of their fascinating lives via Katy Brand's exceptional second series of her Big Ass Show. This autumn is our strongest season ever and will absolutely consolidate ITV2's position as the No. 1 digital channel in the UK."

This social media news release is available at: -
http://socialnews.itv.com/?ReleaseID=9606

Content Available: -
Imagery
Videos
Related Links

webitpr / pressbot.net

19.08.2008 - 0:00 pressbot.net | 115 X