Episodes of long-running, multi award-winning format acquired by Warner Bros. Discovery in the UK & Ireland as two new seasons commissioned by ITV

Amsterdam, 27 March 2024: Independent international distribution company Lineup Industries has sold a package of over 50 episodes of format juggernaut Long Lost Family, originally produced for the UK’s ITV by Wall to Wall, to Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland. The deal includes seasons 8-12 of the Long Lost Family UK series, series 3-8 of follow-up show What Happened Next, spin-off show Long Lost Family: Born Without A Trace seasons 1-5 and Born Without a Trace: What Happened Next 1-2.

Original commissioning broadcaster ITV has also ordered two more series of the long-running format from producer Wall to Wall, taking it to seasons 14 and 15 in the UK, as well as a further season of What Happened Next and another season of Born Without a Trace.

With the UK and US versions of the series licensed to 100+ territories, Long Lost Family is an evergreen global hit format for both local versions and tape sales. Over the course of two decades on air, it has been produced for 18 local channels including TLC in the US, NPO 1 in The Netherlands, Sweden’s TV4, Reshet in Israel, Ten in Australia, TV Nova in the Czech Republic and the UK’s ITV. On DR Denmark it is currently in its 17^th season.

In each episode of Long Lost Family, viewers are taken on a moving journey, from the revealing moment relatives are told their loved one has been traced, to the raw moment of the reunion which, in many cases, would only ever have happened in their wildest dreams. Long Lost Family explores the background and social context of each family’s estrangement and why it occurred.

Spin-off show Born Without Trace is also a success in its own right and the UK iteration of the Long Lost Family franchise has been recognised by awards from BAFTA, Grierson, National TV and TV Choice.

Julian Curtis, Founder of Lineup Industries, said: “This show is a proven audience favourite, with both the local format and tape versions consistently in demand in multiple territories, over an incredible 20 years on air. The commitment from Warner Bros. Discovery, which follows ITV’s commission of two more seasons in its original market, underscores this format’s appeal – it hits the spot for audiences looking for authentic factual entertainment rooted in heartwarming resolution.”

For further information, please contact:

Aimée Norman at Liberi Consulting on: +44 (0) 7957 564 050 or aimee@libericonsulting.com