France Télévisions goes Mental

Mental originated on YLE in Finland

French public broadcaster France Télévisions has secured the rights to Finnish scripted format Mental from UK distribution company Magnify Media.

The 10×23’ French version will be released on the network’s video-on-demand service Slash this autumn, coproduced by Black Sheep Films and Endemol Shine. The show tells the real-life stories of four teenagers in a secure psychiatric unit.

The format has also been optioned by UK-based production company Various Artists Limited, which was launched by Peep Show writers Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, and ex-Channel 4 commissioning execs Phil Clarke and Roberto Troni. Mental is the first scripted option deal signed by the production company, in which BBC Studios has a 20% stake.

NENT-owned Danish producer Strong has also picked up the local rights for the format, while the original version has been recommissioned for a second season in Finland by public broadcaster YLE. The prodco is It’s Alive Films.