Purple Goes on the Road with Channel 4

Manchester based Purple Productions is hitting the road with Channel 4 after securing two new commissions: Britain’s Most Beautiful Road and A Cotswold Farmshop.

Previously Scotland’s best kept secret, Britain’s Most Beautiful Road will uncover the highs and lows of Scotland’s spectacular North Coast-500 route during its busiest season yet. With exclusive access to the Highland Council and its new ranger team, the 4x60 series will follow the people and the businesses behind the NC500 as well as the challenges that come with maintaining one of the top road-trip destinations in the world.

The stunning 516-mile road runs from Inverness and covers the North Highlands with all its wilderness and beauty. Local producers, farm shops, smokeries, delis, bakers and butchers dot the route and with the increasing popularity of the NC500 the demand for those that serve the route, as well as the infrastructure of the road itself, has grown significantly.

Told through the lens of the rangers, viewers will get a fascinating insight into the inner workings of this most beautiful road. From Highland Games, cycle events, to the council workers, campsite owners and independent businesses, the hundreds of travellers who visit every year bask in the bucolic coastal scenery and depend on the locals to help feed and fuel their road trip.

A Cotswold Farmshop will be showcasing the spectacular setting of Gloucester Services, their staff, visitors and the local community it serves. The famous grass-roofed station was built in 2014 and is run by the family behind the iconic Tebay Services, which was the focus of Channel 4 and Purple Production’s much-loved returning series, A Lake District Farmshop.

The 6x60 Cotswold offering will bring a host of new, regional characters to love and highlight the role it plays within the community, bringing employment, skills, training and lifelong careers to people living within proximity of the service station

Purple’s Pam Cavannagh and Dympna Jackson said: “We’re excited to take viewers along to these two iconic locations with Channel 4. Both the NC500 route and Gloucester Services are stunning and have so much to offer, we can’t wait for people to discover these places and meet the wonderful people who work so hard behind-the-scenes.”

Clemency Green, Senior Commissioning Editor, Channel 4 said, “Britain’s Most Beautiful Road is a celebration of this popular route that traverses the wild and beautiful landscape of Scotland’s north coast. We hope viewers will enjoy learning more about the people, produce and history of the most beautiful locations on our doorstep.”

Jane Handa, commissioning executive at Channel 4 said, “I am delighted to be working with Pam and Dympna at Purple on both series. Showcasing some of Britain’s most dedicated food producers and crafters, against such beautiful landscapes in the height of summer – these shows will be a real treat!”

Britain’s Most Beautiful Road was commissioned by Clemency Green for Channel 4 with commissioning executive Jane Handa and Head of Daytime and Features Jo Street. The series will be executive produced by Pam Cavannagh and Dympna Jackson.

A Cotswold Farmshop was commissioned for Channel 4 by commissioning editor Deborah Dunnett with commissioning executive Jane Handa and Head of Daytime and Features Jo Street. It is executive produced by Pam Cavannagh and Dympna Jackson.

Both series are distributed by All3Media International.