Channel 4 aims high with OSF feature doc Skyclimber: Scaling the Eiffel Tower

Skyclimber: Scaling the Eiffel Tower from Oxford Scientific Films

UK public service broadcaster Channel 4 has commissioned feature-length climbing documentary Skyclimber: Scaling the Eiffel Tower.

Produced by ITV Studios subsidiary Oxford Scientific Films (Amazing Animal Friends), the film follows urban free solo climber Adam Lockwood as he attempts to scale the famous landmark in Paris without ropes or safety equipment.

The film also charts Lockwood’s journey from periods of his life spent homeless and in prison to becoming one of the free solo community’s youngest stars.

Climbing documentaries have become a growing trend in recent years on both linear channels and streaming platforms. Examples include Meru (Prime Video), The Dark Wizard (HBO), Skyscraper Live (Netflix) and National Geographic’s pioneering 2018 film Free Solo.

Skyclimber: Scaling the Eiffel Tower was filmed, produced and directed by Nick Hardie and the executive producer is Helen Conlan. It was commissioned for Channel 4 by Sacha Mirzoeff, senior commissioning editor and head of Bristol Hub. The film is distributed by ITV Studios.

Mirzoeff said: “We are thankful to Adam for being generous and brave enough to share his innermost thoughts and feelings so openly during this jaw-dropping production.”