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Quintessential British drama, comedy and natural history will be coming to New Zealand screens shortly as a result of recent deals that ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide concluded with Prime Television, TVNZ and TV3.

In a deal that delivers over 20 hours of quality viewing, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide has licensed the critically acclaimed reimagining of Upstairs Downstairs, gripping detective drama DCI Banks and splendid natural history programs Human Planet and Polar Bear – Spy on the Ice to Prime Television

Upstairs Downstairs (3x50’ ´óÏó´«Ã½/Masterpiece PBS co-production) returns one of the most loved British television series to the small screen. Created by and starring Jean Marsh from the original series and featuring a star-studded cast and sumptuous production values, Upstairs Downstairs lifts the curtain on the lives of the privileged and not-so-privileged inhabitants of a Belgravia estate in the 1930’s.

An adaptation of the detective novel series by Peter Robinson, DCI Banks (1x90’ Left Bank Pictures for ITV1) tells the story of a seasoned detective who is put to the test investigating a series of chilling murders in an unfamiliar patch.

Natural history series Human Planet (8x50’ ´óÏó´«Ã½/Discovery Channel/France Television co-production) is an epic 8 part series celebrating the relationship between man and Nature. Polar Spy – Spy in the Ice (1x90’ A John Downer Production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ and Animal Planet) is the latest in the spycam series that has brought audiences up close and personal to nature's wildest and most captivating animals.

Over 8 hours of top-notch drama and comedy content will air to New Zealand audiences as part of a deal with TVNZ. The national broadcaster will debut the glitzy crime series Mad Dogs (4x45’ A Left Bank Production for Sky), which opens with 5 old friends reuniting for a fun-filled holiday in Majorca until a bloody crime and a murky past catches up with them.

TVNZ has also acquired comedy series Live at the Apollo series 6 (6x45' An Open Mike production for ´óÏó´«Ã½) and Michael McIntyre's – Live & Laughing (1x60’ An Open Mike Manchester production for ´óÏó´«Ã½) which will air later in 2011.

In a separate deal with TV3, Come Fly With Me, the latest comedy from Little Britain's Matt Lucas and David Walliams, will debut to New Zealand audiences later this year.

Featuring 50 characters played between the duo, each more outrageous than the last, Come Fly With Me (6x30' A Little Britain Productions/´óÏó´«Ã½ Production) is a hilarious mock-documentary series set in an airport terminal. Shot on location at Stansted and Robin Hood Airports, Matt and David draw on every aspect of airport life to create this amazing array of airport characters.

"These deals demonstrate that demand for great British content in New Zealand is as strong as ever," commented Robyn Campbell ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide Australia’s Sales Manager, New Zealand.

Fiona Bickerstaff