C5 monkeys with chimps special

Viacom-owned Channel 5 (C5) in the UK has ordered a one-off factual special exploring what happened to a group of apes used in a TV advertising campaign that ran for 50 years.

The Secrets of the Tea Chimps (1×60′) is being produced by London-based Angel Eye Media and uses archive footage to explain how the creatures came to be on screen and what happened when the UK ads ended.

The show will include interviews with the animals’ owners and other characters involved on the ads. Simon Raikes, C5’s commissioning editor, said it would be a “warm-hearted documentary” that will “both charm and shock” viewers.

Merryn Threadgould is attached as producer/director, with Richard Osborne and Caroline Clayton onboard as executive producers.

US media giant Viacom completed its purchase of C5 in September after buying the company from publishing mogul Richard Desmond for £450m (US$759m).