Surprise Surprise returns to France

DR format 180 Days has been sold into the Netherlands, Germany and Spain

A French production outfit has picked up rights to hidden-camera comedy show Surprise Surprise after striking a deal with Canadian distributor Media Ranch.

Deeply Superficial, headed by former Shine France CEO and founder Thierry Lachkar, has acquired local format rights to the celeb-driven show, which first aired more than 30 years ago in Canada and has since been sold into 10 countries including Australia (Nine Network), Belgium (RTBF) and Denmark (TV3).

Thierry Lachkar

Canal+, France 2 and TF1 have all previously acquired remake rights in France, with format rights now being sold globally by Media Ranch.

The Canuck company, which acquired sales rights to all formats from Danish pubcaster DR in March, has also confirmed a sixth season of Still Standing for CBC. The show is an adaptation of DR’s entertainment programme Comedy on the Edge and is produced by Frantic Films.

The French-Canadian version, Comedie à la Carte, was also renewed by Unis TV for season three, and is currently in production with ComediHa!.

Elsewhere, DR reality format 180 Days has been sold into the Netherlands, Germany and Spain, while sociological format Manipulator has sold into France and Spain. Broadcaster details have not been announced.