Ricky Gervais will be starring and executive producing Five to Survive which has just been given a series order by ABC. The Banijay Studios North America production is a one-hour game show featuring Gervais and kids, with a host still to be announced. Commenting on his involvement in the game show, Gervais said, “I’ve never understood the saying ‘never work with animals or children.’ As a producer and director, I prefer either to Hollywood actors. They’re cheaper, they do as they’re told, and the filming hours are better.”
“When Ricky presented his idea for Five to Survive, we immediately knew this was a project that needed to land here at ABC,” stated Robert Mills, senior vice president, Alternative Series, Specials, & Late Night Programming, ABC Entertainment. “It has spirit, it’s fun and it will have the unforgettable comedic moniker that is Ricky Gervais.”
Banijay Group president and CEO David Goldberg added, “At its core, Five to Survive is a high-stakes Q&A game show with the unpredictable twist of contestants putting their earning potential in the hands of children. You never know what’s going to come out of a kid’s mouth, and with Ricky Gervais, one of the funniest comedians in the world wrangling and asking the questions, it’s certain to be a rollercoaster ride. This should be the type of show that appeals to audiences all over the world.”
The Plot: The one-hour game show will feature priceless interactions between funnyman Ricky Gervais and kids who will assist grown-up contestants with answering questions for a chance to win a large cash prize. Five to Survive is an original studio-based game show that features one adult contestant who must answer 10 questions correctly to earn the top prize. If they answer incorrectly, the contestant has a chance to be saved by a group of five kids who have been asked the same question.
