London 18th February 2022 - Coming later this year to Channel 5, is a brand new six-part series ‘Larger than Life’, produced by Firecracker Films, which follows a loveable cast of plus-sized men and women who are bigger, and proud of it!

Larger than Life is a joyful and thoughtful series and a refreshing alternative to other programming on TV about obesity.  The series features a vibrant, larger than life cast and shows what it’s like to be plus-sized in modern Britain, told through the experience of the people who live it.

Denise Seneviratne, Commissioner Editor Factual at Channel 5 said: “It feels liberating to commission a series that is as bold and brave as Larger Than Life that doesn’t wag the finger or talk down to our audience. This series celebrates and embraces all the diverse shapes and sizes of modern Britain.”   

This heart-warming and distinctive series follows relatable and positive characters as they navigate their personal and professional lives - like Jo & Nat, who are the best of friends. They met when Jo was a customer in Nat’s shop and the rest is history. The series follows their journey as they try to expand their business; a clothing brand that is specifically designed for plus-size women. We’ll also be introduced to Jackie – a no nonsense cake boss who has experienced a massive amount of loss in recent years, but is now throwing herself into her business to make it the best it can be. We’ll also meet Biggie, who started his food business in July 2020. He dreams of one day having a food truck and travelling around the UK and eventually owning a restaurant.   

Executive Producer, Federico Ruiz added: “We’re incredibly excited to be teaming up with Channel 5 once again to create a brand-new series packed full of joyful and heart-warming characters. Larger Than Life is both fun and mischievous whilst sparking important conversations about body size and positivity.”   

Larger than Life is executive produced by Federico Ruiz, Head of Factual Entertainment at Firecracker Films with Elspeth O’Hare, Creative Director at Firecracker Scotland. The series is commissioned for Channel 5 by Denise Seneviratne and will be distributed by Passion Distribution. 

 ~ENDS~ 

For press enquiries please contact -  julie.jack@vimncontractor.com   

ABOUT CHANNEL 5:    

Channel 5 is a public service broadcaster and the UK’s third largest commercial TV station. Launched in March 1997, Channel 5 has been owned by ViacomCBS Networks International since September 2014. Channel 5, 5STAR, 5USA, 5Select and My5 TV reach 3 in 4 of the UK viewing public each month with a diverse schedule including issue-led documentaries, popular factual, accessible history, stunning natural history, inclusive entertainment and reality, top level sport, high quality scripted programming and critically acclaimed children’s, news and current affairs programming. Through its agenda-driving commissions, Channel 5 has led on societal issues from inequality to inner city gang life, homelessness to mental health, aiming to tell the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the nation.  My5 is an on-demand service allowing viewers to watch content online for free from Channel 5, 5STAR, 5USA, 5Select and 5Spike, as well as selected third-party channels. In 2018, Channel 5 won its first BAFTA for Cruising with Jane McDonald and was named ‘Channel of the Year’ at the Edinburgh TV Festival. In 2019, Chanel 5 won best documentary award for The Abused at the RTS Awards, Edinburgh TV Awards and the Association of International Broadcasters Awards. In 2020, Channel 5 was crowned Channel of the Year at the Broadcast Digital Awards and Channel of the Year at the RTS awards.   

 ABOUT VIACOM INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS:   

 Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is comprised of many of the world’s most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Channel, VH1, VIVA and COLORS. Viacom brands are seen globally in more than 600 million households in 170 territories and 37 languages via more than 200 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 550 digital media and mobile TV properties. For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom’s blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/Viacom    

ABOUT FIRECRACKER FILMS:   

Firecracker are the company behind some of the highest rating and most talked about Factual television programmes of the past decade, Firecracker specialise in telling authentic human stories and offering never-before-seen perspectives on the issues in society. With offices in both London and Glasgow, Firecracker are equally at home in premium documentary and Factual Entertainment formats, like The Murder of Grace Millane, which was the highest rating programme on ITV2 in 2021 after Love Island, with Emma Willis: Delivering Babies and Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over being the two highest rating series on UKTV’s W channel.   Winner of Indie of the Year at the Broadcast Digital Awards 2020, Firecracker has a wealth of awards and nominations under its belt. They won the highly competitive Channel 4 Global Format Fund commissioning tender in 2021 and it was selected in Realscreen’s Global 100 list of the world’s best producers in 2021. Programme wise, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies picked up the win three years running in the Best Factual Show category at the Broadcast Digital Awards.  Firecracker are also the producers of multi award winning, global breakout hit series Big Fat Gypsy Weddings on Channel 4 in the UK and TLC in the USA, and the BBC Three documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, which inspired the hit musical and movie ‘Everybody’s Talking about Jamie’. This year promises to be as successful as ever, with projects lined up at BBC1, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Discovery +, UKTV, BBC Scotland and Sky History.   

ABOUT TINOPOLIS GROUP:   

The Tinopolis Group is an international TV production and distribution group with businesses based in the UK and US and a portfolio spanning 13 content production companies across all genres – from big scale entertainment and award-winning factual to critically acclaimed drama and ground-breaking live sports coverage. The group also includes international distributor, Passion Distribution.