Banijay grabs format distribution rights to French-Canadian Wild Cooks

Culinary format Wild Cooks

Banijay has picked up exclusive format distribution rights to French-Canadian culinary format Wild Cooks.

Produced by Quebec-based prodco Toast in collaboration with Quebecor Content, the show sees super chefs leaving the comfort of their professional kitchens as they are dropped by helicopter into an isolated forest, where they must battle the elements to prepare dishes using surprising ingredients and an open flame.

The series, known in French-Canada as Chef de bois, was produced initially for unscripted-focused SVoD service Vrai, which was launched last year by Montreal-based media company Quebecor.

The factual project was a hit on Vrai – a second season of the series was commissioned and will launch this week.

Through the distribution deal, the format has now become part of Banijay’s catalogue, with the France-headquartered company representing the show globally, excluding French-Canada.

“There is something very cool about this unique series which combines the very best elements of cookery and adventure reality formats,” said Carlotta Rossi Spencer, head of format acquisitions at Banijay.

“As creatives, we can use our know-how and expertise with MasterChef and Survivor, to collaborate and bring Wild Cooks to the international marketplace, and it will be exciting to see another format from French-Canada travel the world.”

In other recent deals, Banijay acquired exclusive format rights to South African factual entertainment series Still Got It! from Rebelintown, EXchange from CJ ENM and Bloody Game from MBC.

Banijay, which recently revealed it will go public in July via a SPAC deal, has a catalogue of over 4,000 formats including Hunted, Lego Masters and Big Brother, and newer formats such as Starstruck, Limitless Win, The Courtship and Your Body Uncovered.