Crackanory, the adult-targeted story reading series, will return to UKTV’s Dave following the success of the broadcaster’s tie-up with Amazon’s Audible audiobooks service for series three.
Under an expanded partnership Audible will receive bespoke sponsorship idents on both linear and VOD broadcasts of the new series.
Subscribers to the service will be able to listen to some of their favourite stories from all four series via Audible’s site, as well as five exclusively written stories from the Crackanory writing team and bespoke content featuring the narrators.
Confirmed narrators for the new eight-part run include Sheridan Smith, Dara O Briain, Doc Brown, Anna Friel, Mackenzie Crook, Miriam Margolyes, Bob Mortimer and Mel Giedroyc.
Kate Norum, senior commercial partnerships manager for UKTV, said: “We are genuinely delighted to be partnering with the team at Audible again for series four of Crackanory.
“This series’ collaboration has been designed to deliver even more exclusive content to their subscribers, as well as providing the brilliant on-screen association with fantastic stories and story-telling which Crackanory offers them.”
Tracey Markham, UK Manager at Audible, added, “Everyone loves to listen to a good story – whatever age they are. Over the past 10 years we’ve worked hard to reintroduce the pleasure of storytelling to people across the UK through our catalogue of audiobooks and original productions.
“We’re huge admirers of what Crackanory has been doing and see this partnership as a meeting of minds and objectives.”
Crackanory will be produced by Tiger Aspect Productions, with Arnold Widdowson as series producer and Andy Brereton returning as executive producer on the series.
Arnold Widdowson, series producer, Tiger Aspect, said: “Crackanory is possibly the most addictive show to work on – each series provides a blank slate from which we can transport the viewer into any world we want.
“From a barbershop competition in 1940s New York to bloodthirsty ancient Rome, every episode we stretch ourselves to create increasingly twisted and exciting original stories. The longer format for this series allows us time to delve into each world even more deeply, creating a truly captivating half hour of storytelling for the audience.
“What other show gives you cryogenically frozen men, lies that come to life, deranged dictators, and Edwardian magicians? I’m thrilled and incredibly lucky to be working with such imaginative writers and brilliant storytellers.”