Format

BBC Studios is heading to MIPCOM 2026 with four new reality formats spanning social experiments, dating, competition and talent, alongside a new industry session exploring the future of unscripted entertainment. They are: The Yacht, The Big Date, Silent Attraction and Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. The formats will be showcased during Reality Check: A New Era of Unscripted Formats, a dedicated BBC Studios session taking place on Monday 12 October.

In The Yacht, 12 guests board a luxury yacht to compete in daily challenges, battling to win cash while avoiding elimination. However, the competition has another layer: unbeknownst to the contestants, their interactions, reactions and decisions are being observed as part of a wider social experiment. Developed in the UK by Rebel Rebel, formerly part of BBC Studios, The Yacht was commissioned by NRK in Norway and will be produced by BBC Studios Norway. The format asks how people behave when they believe nobody is watching, placing the contestants in an environment where status, power and luxury become part of the game.

Dating takes a technological turn in The Big Date, produced by Incís for 3Cat. The format brings together 100 singles looking for meaningful relationships, while an AI system analyses the participants and identifies their ideal match somewhere within the group. The singles then navigate a series of dates, questions and decisions as they attempt to determine whether they should trust the algorithm or their own instincts when it comes to finding love.

Silent Attraction, meanwhile, removes one of the most fundamental elements of dating: conversation. Developed and produced by BBC Studios Sweden for SVT, the format brings together conservative men and progressive women in a series of silent dates designed to test whether chemistry can overcome ideological differences. From dancing and spa experiences to increasingly intimate encounters, the participants must rely entirely on their instincts. After choosing their strongest connections, the matched couples are finally allowed to speak — just as a reveal exposes the opposing values that could put their relationships to the test.

The fourth format, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, turns the spotlight on the professionals behind the global entertainment franchise. Twelve talented dancers compete for the chance to join the cast of Dancing with the Stars, facing demanding workshops and weekly eliminations. Mentored by a different Dancing with the Stars professional each week, the contestants are tested on coaching, chemistry, group work and storytelling before facing a judging panel made up of iconic talent from the franchise. Three finalists remain, but only one will secure a place as the next professional dancer. Produced by BBC Studios LA for ABC, the format expands the Dancing with the Stars universe into a talent competition focused on the skills required behind the main show.

Matt Forde, President of Global Productions at BBC Studios, said “Reality is already a significant part of what we do across Global Productions, and we see huge potential to grow even further in the genre. The formats we’re bringing to MIPCOM demonstrate the ambition and range of our reality pipeline.”

Scripted slate
Alongside its unscripted offering, BBC Studios will present several scripted titles to buyers at MIPCOM. Mammoth (7x60’) is a comedy about a 1970s PE teacher who is believed to have died in an avalanche, only to return to a very different world decades later. The BBC Studios Comedy production is made for BBC. Wild Cherry (6x60’), from BAFTA award-winner Nicôle Lecky, is a premium thriller centred on secrets and scandal within a privileged community. It is produced by Firebird Pictures for BBC. Waiting for the Out (6x45’) follows teacher Dan as he starts a philosophy class in prison, with tensions mounting as his own life begins to unravel. The series is produced by SISTER for BBC. Finally, Ann Droid (6x30’) follows a recent widow who forms an unexpected alliance with a second-hand robot carer. The comedy is produced by Boffola Pictures and Witchcraft Industries for BBC.