Jonathan Sacerdoti works on a freelance basis as a development producer and writer for TV production companies, developing factual, entertainment, and reality TV formats. His experience spans from specialist factual science programmes through to comedy quiz shows and studio shows. He has developed ideas for all the major UK broadcasters, as well as the National Geographic Channel (USA), Lifetime (USA) and other leading American stations.

Please get in touch if you are interested in any of the following services, or are looking for some creative help in another area:

• Origination and development of new ideas
• Preparation of ideas for pitching, and in person presentation and pitching
• Development and treatment-writing for already existing ideas
• Running creative brainstorm sessions with your existing team
• Acting as a treatment doctor, troubleshooting existing ideas
• General writing for TV, especially at the development stage
• Voiceovers for broadcast or non broadcast purposes

Please address all enquiries to jonathan@sacerdoti.com

Jonathan has worked on the development of the following recent (or soon to be screened) programmes:

Greatest Britons 2007
Britain's Best 2008
(ITV1, annual awards show, first TX: 21 May 2007) Shine

A star-studded award ceremony, Greatest Britons 2007 recognised the most creative and successful people from across the UK who have achieved worldwide fame within their professional fields. Produced in association with The Sun newspaper, the live event featured the cream of film, television, the arts, business, sport, social responsibility and fashion. Winners included Amy Winehouse, Ricky Gervais, Dame Helen Mirren, David Beckham and artist Banksy. Developed and formatted the idea from conception through to commission.

Returned in 2008 as "Britain's Best".

Football Saved My Life
(Bravo, reality series TX: 2006) Granada

Reality series fronted by Neil Ruddock, combining football and therapy for overweight, angry, heavy-drinking men. Screentested and cast the team of experts appearing throughout the series, and worked on structuring the format episode by episode, taking the project through to successful commission.

My Childhood
(BBC Three, 7 x 60’ TX: 2006) Endemol UK

Wrote original format and pitch, and also worked at pre-production stage on casting and celebrity booking for this series, which was Endemol’s first ever Specialist Factual commission for the BBC.

Each episode follows one celebrity as they meet regularly with a psychotherapist, whilst also returning to their childhood home, confronting and revisiting their early experiences, so as to better understand their adult personality.

Gordon Ramsay's F Word
(C4, weekly entertainment / cookery show) Optomen

Food magazine show with Gordon Ramsay. Worked on the development of this returning format, which has now run for several series on Channel 4.

The New Ten Commandments
(Channel 4, 1 x 2 hour religion special) Optomen

A modern list show about morality. At the heart of the programme is a YouGov poll which tests the morality of our society: we find out what really matters to modern Britons. From this survey we create a series of 'new commandments' for viewers to vote on.

You’re Not The Man I Married
(Lifetime, 13 x 30’ reality format) Optomen

Host Shayla Rivera brings wedded bliss back to some discouraged wives. Rivera challenges America's married men to resurrect the caring and romantic 'Prince Charmings' they once were. Through a variety of comedic tasks and unpredictable twists, Rivera will get these guys off the couch and on the front line, fighting to show their neglected wives just how much they still care.

Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares
(Channel 4) Optomen

Manipulated documentary series where Gordon Ramsay turns around the fortunes of failing restaurants in the UK. Prepared and wrote the production bible for this format, facilitating worldwide format sales. The format has now been turned into a hit show on FOX in America. In the UK, the programme won an International Emmy for Best Non-Scripted Entertainment, UK in 2006, and was nominated for two BAFTAs and two National Television Awards.

Spirituality Shopper
(Channel 4, 3 x 60’ religion format series, TX: June 2005) Optomen

Part of the small team and casting presenters for this 'pick and mix' religion programme, where members of the public experienced rituals from various religions in order to help them gain a level of spirituality in their lives.

Back To Reality
(five, 2 x nightly for 3 weeks) Princess Productions

Stars of previous reality series live together in a luxury mansion with the aim of winning the coveted title of 'most popular reality TV star ever' and the chance to donate £75,000 to their favourite charity. Each day the least popular is sent 'Back To Reality'. Worked on development of the format and contributed to treatments during the pitching process.

Ruby Does The Business
(BBC3, 4 x 60') Princess Productions

Worked on the development of this factual Ruby Wax business format.

A Wife For William
(E4 and C4, 6 x 30') Princess Productions

As Prince William turned 21, this comedy archive-based series showcased potential wives for him, allowing viewers to pick their favourite. Presented by comedian Will Smith.

Bump & Grind
(Trouble TV, 3 series, 20 x 30') Princess Productions

Worked on entire development process from conception through to commission, including complex series and competition structure. This talent show for dancers was Trouble TV's first and biggest reality talent contest, and has run for three series so far.

Totally Top Trumps
(Challenge TV, 20 x 30') Princess Productions

Comedy game show, based on the classic card game, Top Trumps.

How Much Am I Worth?
(five, pilot 1 x 60') Princess Productions

Lifestyle feature format where families sell everything they own in order to discover how much they are worth, and then search for the best new life that their money can buy them.

Little Monsters
(Sky One, 10 x 60’) Princess Productions

Game show where five real-life Bart Simpsons have control over the fate of a group of five adults. The boys get to decide what the adults have to do to amuse and entertain them for the day, with the worst one being eliminated each round.

Blood Under The Carpet
(five, 1 x 60') Princess Productions

Imagine buying a house only to find out that a serial killer once cut up eight of his victims in the kitchen. In Blood Under The Carpet we meet the people who live where others have died. Conduced specialist research sourcing homes where murders had taken place.

How to be a Superflirt
(five, 1 x 60’) Princess Productions

Hour long special for Five in which Tracey Cox (of BBC2's Would Like to Meet and the best-selling author of Hot Sex: How To Do It) explains the secrets of successful flirting.

Office Monkey
(ITV2, 2 series, 9 x 30’) Princess Productions

Hidden camera gameshow where two members of offices around the country have to disrupt their work places in the funniest ways possible. The winner gets a holiday, and the right to call themselves 'Office Monkey'.

Date My Mom
(MTV, USA) Princess Productions

Worked on paper format of this reality gameshow where each episode, one brave guy goes on a date with three moms. The guys will then decide which of their daughters will be the right love match for them, without even seeing so much as a photograph of the girls.

America’s Most Useless Teen
(paper format sold to MTV USA) Princess Productions

Reverse elimination reality talent contest.

Teen Idle (five, 1 x 60’)
Princess Productions

Searching for Britain's most useless teenager.

Voicereel
Here is an example of Jonathan's voiceover work from a non broadcast pitch tape for Deal or No Deal:

Recent clients include Endemol UK, Crystal Entertainment, ITV Productions (Granada), Shine, ORTV, and Tigress Productions.