Andrew Sime’s Flywheel Formats takes The Random Driving Test to Cannes

The Random Driving Test is airing on RTÉ One in Ireland

An Irish format in which unsuspecting drivers are challenged to spontaneously retake their driving test for the chance to win a cash prize is among the shows being brought to Mipcom by Andrew Sime’s Flywheel Formats.

Factual entertainment show The Random Driving Test is currently airing on RTÉ One in Ireland and is produced by Vision Independent Productions.

Also on Flywheel’s slate for Cannes is Supermarket Chef, which has already been produced in Ukraine, with a Polish production in the works.

The cookery competition takes place in a real supermarket, where an announcement invites ordinary shoppers to take part in an on-the-spot cooking contest. Contestants are given a dish and a budget, before racing to find their ingredients and cook.

Other shows include three classic gameshows produced by FrenchTV and co-distributed by Panopticon Media: Duel, My Family Versus the Nation and Cash Letters.

Another addition from Heroes Formats is Scarman, a Ukrainian social reality format. The series helps people overcome the physical and emotional trauma associated with prominent scars, working with leading tattoo artists to transform their scars into unique pieces of art.

The new titles join Flywheel’s existing catalogue, which includes 60 Minutes Without an Audience from Japan’s YTV; Scrambled, from creators Juan Parodi and Federico Tello; and formats from Canada’s Go Button Media, including Sense Appeal.

Experienced unscripted exec Sime set up Flywheel Formats in 2024 after leaving his role as head of format sales at Newen Connect. Prior to Newen, Sime was VP of formats at Banijay Rights and also held roles at Turkey’s Global Agency, Sony and Endemol International.