The light, soothing (although generally tear-inducing) artwork of making fabulous truffles and biscuits has for a few years drawn big audiences to The Nice British Bake Off. Now its creators hope to do the identical with one other calming and infrequently genteel pastime: piano enjoying.
This seek for undiscovered ivory-tinkling expertise can be documented weekly in The Piano, which can observe newbie pianists all the best way to a finale live performance at London’s Royal Pageant Corridor. It goals to faucet into the “avenue piano” phenomenon, which has spawned viral movies of individuals enjoying in public, and is the brainchild of Richard McKerrow, co-founder and inventive director of Love Productions, which additionally makes The Nice Pottery Throw Down and The Nice British Stitching Bee.
The brand new sequence, because of air subsequent yr, grew out of a dialog with Channel 4’s chief content material officer, Ian Katz. “4 years in the past, we have been each studying the piano and mentioned how outstanding these public pianos have been,” says McKerrow. “We handed the one in St Pancras station [in London] day by day on our commutes. Ian requested: ‘May you make a present about it?’ I jumped on the probability.”
What began out as a heartwarming one-off documentary quickly advanced into one thing larger. Opening rounds have been filmed at 4 mainline stations across the UK – St Pancras, Leeds, Glasgow Central and Birmingham New Road – with 20 newbie pianists acting at every. Subsequent comes a significant twist.
“Instantly we had a brainwave,” says McKerrow. “What if it’s a contest however they don’t realize it? The pianists assume they’re in a documentary, then we inform them it’s a contest too. I can’t consider one other present that’s ever achieved that.” The very best contestants undergo to play within the grand finale live performance at London’s Royal Pageant Corridor.
The Piano can be hosted by Claudia Winkleman. Hopefuls can be evaluated by two “maestros” in Chinese language classical virtuoso Lang Lang, and Lebanese-born British pop star Mika, final seen co-hosting Eurovision.
“We by no means dreamed we’d get such large names,” says McKerrow. “They agreed to do it for not a lot cash as a result of they liked the concept and are passionate in regards to the instrument. Lang Lang and Mika are from totally different worlds, classical and pop, however their bromance is great. It jogs my memory of Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry when Bake Off started – the high-end skilled and the house baker, bringing their experience collectively.”
Contestants are drawn from a large cross-section of society. “Even by Bake Off’s broad requirements, the casting is numerous,” says McKerrow. “They span from six-year-olds to 95-year-olds. There are autistic, blind and disabled pianists. For a lot of of them, the piano is their escape. It’s magical and emotional. The music is eclectic too, starting from hip-hop to jazz to classical. It’s the same artform to Bake Off in some methods. Pianists and bakers practise their talent for themselves however the outcomes are shared with others. Meals and music are worldwide languages.”
The newest sequence of Bake Offlaunched final week. Channel 4 determined to go forward with its broadcast regardless of widespread TV schedule adjustments after the Queen’s demise. “It was an odd time to be touchdown however felt someway applicable,” says McKerrow. “At a time of nationwide mourning, Bake Off is therapeutic. It brings individuals collectively.”
The thirteenth run of the hit cake-making contest represents a homecoming. The manufacturing is again at Welford Park, Berkshire, after two years of filming in a Covid-safe bubble at Down Corridor Resort, Essex. “Welford is our religious residence, so it’s nice to be again,” says McKerrow. He teases shock to return this sequence, together with a fancy-dressed theme week and a no-recipe technical problem.
The UK judges are additionally working collectively on the US model for the primary time. Hollywood was already a choose on The Nice American Baking Present. Prue Leith now joins him because the sequence returns after a three-year hiatus because of lockdown. What many viewers don’t realise is that The Nice American Baking Present is filmed at Pinewood Studios, with the bakers introduced over to the UK all through the competition.
“We’ve now obtained two British judges and we’re taking pictures it right here,” laughs McKerrow. “It’s getting extra British every year.”
It has been a difficult two years for Love Productions, whose inventory in commerce is factual codecs with massive casts and crews. Throughout lockdown, it targeted on discovering methods to make its present sequence safely in bubbles – each to maintain its groups employed and audiences entertained.
This meant new tasks have been placed on maintain. Now McKerrow and co are firing on all cylinders once more. Subsequent to hit our screens is The Huge Blow Out, a hairstyling contest coming to E4 in a fortnight.
In the meantime, Bake Off: The Musical premiered at Cheltenham’s Everyman theatre in the summertime and is in talks to switch to London subsequent yr. “Fingers crossed,” says McKerrow. “It’s an thrilling time.”
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