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Ten programming boss Mott: Our next big thing will be Undercover Boss

Ten programming boss David Mott believes he may have found the next post-Masterchef reality ratings blockbuster – Undercover Boss.

The network will start shooting a local version of the series “in six to eight weeks”. It will also air the American version.  

In an interview with the Mediaweek Australia podcast over the weekend, Mott – recently returned from the MIPTV conference in Europe – said Ten had held an option on the series since its UK version.

But it was the success of the American version on CBS which persuaded him.

He said: “We picked up a couple of formats. We’re proceeding with Undercover Boss

“That’s been incredibly successful for CBS. We’ve been sitting there thinking about the prospect for Ten. Now it’s a runaway train for CBS we’ve bought the CBS version.”

The format – which sees a company CEO secretly return to the shop floor in each episode – was created by Stephen Lambert who was also behind hit formats such as Wife Swap and Secret Millionaire, for which Nine recently completed filming a second series.

Mott said of Undercover Boss: “We’ll be in production with the local version in six to eight weeks with a view to launching in last few weeks of survey this year or early next year.”

He said: “We’ve defined a few iconic Australian companies. It’s a great series. It’s a real eye opener. It’s a little ripper.”

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