ITV Meridian - Productions

Productions

Meridian Broadcasting was originally intended to function as a publisher-broadcaster, commissioning most programmes from independent producers and with in-house production largely restricted to regional news. However, over time and as its ownership changed, Meridian began to make a number of regional and networked programmes itself. As its parent company MAI became a significant shareholder in Channel 5, Meridian supplied a number of the new channel's programmes such as sports programme Turnstyle, youth programme The Mag and children's show Havakazoo.

Meridian-commissioned programmes that were introduced included Wizadora for pre-school children, plus ZZZap! and Eye of the Storm for older children. Later on other children's programming was introduced including Dog and Duck for pre-school children. Drama became a successful genre for Meridian, with Peter Kosminsky's hard-hitting No Child of Mine (co-produced by Stonehenge Films, United Productions and Meridian for ITV) tackling the emotionally difficult subject of child abuse, winning Meridian a BAFTA. Later, the same production team tackled vicious childhood bullying in Walking on the Moon for ITV. Hornblower was a Sunday night success for ITV and another Sunday night favourite, Where the Heart Is, transferred production from Anglia to Meridian in 2004.

Some of Meridian's notable contributions to the national television network include:

  • 7 Days
  • Catchphrase (Series 9, 7 episodes)
  • Dog and Duck
  • Dogs with Dunbar
  • Doing It Up
  • Eye of the Storm
  • Freescreen
  • Full Stretch
  • Hornblower
  • Late Night Live
  • Monkey Business
  • No Child of Mine
  • Ridge Riders
  • The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1993–2000; previously TVS)
  • Screen Challenge
  • Ski Time
  • Sooty's Amazing Adventures
  • Teddybears
  • That's Esther
  • Walking on the Moon
  • What's My Line?
  • Where the Heart Is (transferred from Anglia)
  • Wizadora
  • WoW
  • ZZZap!

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