BiggerStage and FOX Alternative Entertainment to Produce Variety Competition Series The Big Deal for Virgin Media Televsion
Programme to Feature Panelists Boy George, Deirdre O’Kane, Aston Merrygold, Jedward, Lyra and Presenter Vogue Williams.
BiggerStage, the new Dublin-headquartered television production, talent management and commercial partnerships company launched by Pat Kiely, and FOX Alternative Entertainment (FAE), FOX Entertainment’s U.S.-based in-house unscripted studio, will jointly produce the variety competition series The Big Deal for Ireland’s Virgin Media Television.
The series, presented by Vogue Williams, features celebrity judges, including pop legend Boy George; comedian and actor Deirdre O’Kane; Aston Merrygold, formerly of JLS and recent finalist on The Masked Singer; talent show favourites, Jedward; and ascendant music star Lyra. Six hour-long episodes of The Big Deal will premiere on Virgin Media Television this autumn. The Big Deal is created and owned by FAE.
The Big Deal represents BiggerStage’s first significant move and illustrates the company’s mission to “empower Ireland to play on a bigger stage” by developing content for the global market, while positioning the country as a hub for international television production. BiggerStage’s three foundational pillars -- content production, talent management and building innovative commercial partnerships -- will also be demonstrated in forthcoming announcements regarding The Big Deal’s commercial model, which will include sponsorship and product placement.
Pat Kiely, Founder and CEO of BiggerStage, said: “The Big Deal really is a very big deal for us and also for Ireland as we deliver a world first. It puts BiggerStage firmly where we want it to be, pioneering new production models, working with great talent and partnering with international entertainment brands. We are thrilled to see The Big Deal premiere this autumn on Virgin Media Television and look forward to working with FOX Alternative Entertainment to make this fun-filled, family show a global hit.”
Bill Malone, Director of Content at Virgin Media Television, said: “The Big Deal is a spectacular new entertainment show filming in Dublin’s 3Arena and is on a scale not seen in Ireland before. FOX Alternative Entertainment, BiggerStage and Virgin Media Television have joined forces for this unique partnership to create a landmark new entertainment format. And that is what The Big Deal is all about – Entertainment”.
The Big Deal showcases variety acts, ranging from musicians and magicians through comedians and dancers to acrobats and the utterly undefinable. The only thing the performers have in common is an ability to make jaws drop, hearts race and eyes roll -- and occasionally tear up. After each act, the performers are offered a deal: they can either accept a cash buyout and leave the competition with a useful sum of money -- or they can reject the offer and hope they’ve impressed the judges enough to progress through to the final and the chance to win a life-changing prize pot. The Big Deal doesn’t just test talent — it tests self-belief. Every heart-in-mouth choice is a balancing act between knowing when to press on and when to bow out. The question is: who will correctly read the judges’ reactions and succeed in evolving their act from show to show to win the grand prize?
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About BiggerStage
Founded in March 2021 by Pat Kiely, former managing director of Virgin Media Television, BiggerStage is a media and entertainment company founded on three pillars: producing great content, developing stand-out talent and creating innovative partnerships. Headquartered in Dublin the company develops original content for the global market and serves as an Irish hub for international television production; represents major broadcasting and entertainment talent, and develops up-and-coming talent; and partners with industry stakeholders and brands to develop new ways to fund and scale audiovisual projects, while leveraging Ireland’s creative and commercial benefits.
About FOX ALTERNATIVE ENTERTAINMENT
FOX Alternative Entertainment (FAE) is the in-house unscripted studio of FOX Entertainment. Formed in 2019 to oversee the production of television's #1 primetime series, The Masked Singer, FAE develops and produces alternative programming for both FOX Network and third-party platforms. In addition to The Masked Singer, FAE currently produces The Masked Dancer, I Can See Your Voice, Name That Tune and FOX’s New Year’s Eve Toast & Roast 2021, as well as co-produces Ultimate Tag. All-new programs produced by FAE include the guessing game-meets-baking competition Crime Scene Kitchen, hosted by Joel McHale (with Fly on the Wall Entertainment); Domino Masters, with Eric Stonestreet hosting; the singing competition Alter Ego; and Next Level Chef, the next evolution in cooking competitions, hosted by Gordon Ramsay and co-produced with Studio Ramsay. FAE nurtures new voices in the unscripted arena while building its portfolio by creating and identifying new formats to produce and distribute in the U.S. and globally.
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For further information, please contact:
Cheryl Clarke at Mushroom Media on behalf of BiggerStage:
Tel: +44 (0)7939554109. E: cheryl@mushroom-media.co.uk
Les Eisner at FOX Entertainment:
Tel: +1 310-369-3276. E: les.eisner@fox.com