Channel 4.0 continues to expand its slate of creator-led content for Gen Z audiences with a pair of commissions that showcase its evolving strategy across social-first platforms.
The first is original format The Snake, a new six-part production from Strong Watch Studios combining competitive quiz with strategic gameplay – as some of the players only win by getting the answers wrong.
In each episode six creators start with a collective prize pot of £5000. Together they must navigate through a series of multiple-choice questions in order to retain as much of the prize money as possible. What the group don’t immediately realise is that two of the creators are secretly ‘Snakes’, saboteurs whose goal is to manipulate, influence and mislead the group into submitting the wrong answers. Any money lost from the pot by getting the wrong answer can be won by the snakes instead.
As the quiz unfolds ‘investigators’ work to identify and eliminate the Snakes. If both Snakes are caught the prize money is split between the honest players and the investigators, leaving the Snakes with nothing.
Creators taking part in the first series include: Adeola Patronne, Chloe Burrows, Danny Aarons, Harry Pinero, Mariam Musa, Zeze Millz, Ava Hirons, Darkest Man, Eman SV2, Max Fosh, PK Humble, Whitney Adebayo, Expressions, Konan, & Tyrique Hyde.
Strong Watch Studios has also secured a commission for a series of Creator Clash episodes, 4.0 mini-games that showcase the talents of the creators in fun and unexpected ways. Creator Clash episodes include Bait & Plate: a competitive eating challenge meets bluffing game featuring Expressions & Konan, and Harry Pinero & Danny Aarons. There is also Same Wavelength, in which Adeola Patronne and Chloe Burrows compete to match answers with the Channel 4.0 audience on what makes the perfect woman. Finally there is Legit Check, which sees creators like Adeola Patronne, Chloe Burrows, Harry Pinero, and Danny Aarons challenge each other to identify legit items from dupes, with hilarious forfeits for the losers.
Executive Producers on The Snake and the Creator Clash series were Strong Watch Co-Founders Thom Gulseven and Ben Powell-Jones. The Snake was Series Produced by Danny Lorimer, Creator Clash by Adam Reeve.
Meanwhile, After Party Studios returns to Channel 4.0 with a longer run of its hit debate show Hear Me Out, also commissioned by Buckley following a successful first series.
Hosted by Specs Gonzalez and featuring regulars like Nella Rose and Zeze Millz, the new run spans nine 15-minute episodes plus two specials. Joining the cast are social standouts Chloe Burrows, Sidemen’s Vikstarr, Deji, and Sharky. Hear Me Out is executive produced by After Party Studios’ Jamie MacDonald and Sam Ewen.
Hear Me Out (credit: After Party Studios)
After Party Studios is also producing seven episodes for the Creator Clash series, alongside a new digital companion piece Trust Issues, linked to E4’s upcoming launch The Honesty Box. These shows are commissioned by Channel 4’s Digital Commissioning Executive Kaio Grizzelle.
Evie Buckley, digital commissioning editor & Channel 4.0 lead, said: “We are incredibly excited to introduce Strong Watch Studio’s quiz format to Channel 4.0. The Snake is a perfect example of how we are dedicated to creating fresh and engaging entertainment from British creatives in a way that is resonating with young audiences”. On the recommission of Hear Me Out, Buckley said: “We are not resting on our 1billion views at 4.0. Instead, we continue to strengthen our creative content for Gen-Z audiences. The creator-led PSB-quality show Hear Me Out quickly established itself as a favourite among 4.0 viewers, and a comedy classic for a generation of young fans”.
Kaio Grizzelle said, “We are extremely proud of 4.0’s 360 brand offering to young viewers and remain committed to providing the highest quality content across all social platforms. From our studio-based game formats to our mischievous social experiments, everything we commission is developed with audience viewing behaviours and platform insights front of mind, from the episodes themselves to the clips they generate.”
Executive Producer and co-founder of Strong Watch Studios, Ben Powell-Jones said, “We loved working with 4.0 to push the limits of what is possible in digital and continue to blur the line between TV quality production and formatting and digital efficiency and reach.”
Executive producer Jamie MacDonald, Head of Originals at After Party Studios, added: “We could not be happier to be working with Evie and the 4.0 team across these three unique series. Creating bold, culturally relevant content that properly connects with a next gen audience is what we do and we cannot wait to bring more wild debate, creator mayhem and hot takes to 4.0’s hyper-engaged viewers.”
Evie Buckley revealed the new commissions exclusively in this week’s episode of TellyCast.
