The new show The Assembly has been commissioned for ITV and ITVX and will see a range of celebrities grilled by a panel of autistic, neurodivergent, and learning-disabled interviewers
ITV is set to launch a new entertainment series called The Assembly, which will thrill audiences with a fresh format.
The show will span four 30-minute episodes and boast a panel of autistic, neurodivergent, and learning-disabled interviewers who will put celebrities through their paces with unfiltered questions and engaging conversation.
Each episode of The Assembly promises a unique twist with a different celebrity guest, encouraging them to let go of their polished public personas for an exchange expected to be candid, amusing, and touching.
While names of the participating celebrities are still under wraps, those brave enough to join will find themselves navigating a minefield of unexpected queries, with PR-prepped responses taking a backseat.
After making its mark earlier this year as a BBC pilot in the UK, where it was heralded by critics, The Assembly has attracted significant attention. Michael Sheen, featured in the pilot, was quoted saying: “The Assembly’s had more response than anything I’ve ever done” (The Guardian, August 2024), reports the Mirror.
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Rockerdale Studios collaborates with ITV for this venture while also continuously consulting with autism and neurodiversity groups to guarantee an authentic and inclusive presentation of varying perspectives.
The show’s format is based on the popular French series Les Rencontres du Papotin, produced by Kiosco TV and Quad Ten. It first aired in 2022 on France 2 and featured interviews with notable French personalities such as Killing Eve’s Camille Cottin and President Emmanuel Macron, who was asked a memorable question about whether marrying one’s teacher is exemplary behaviour.
Adapted versions of the show have also been produced in other countries, including Australia, Denmark, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Katie Rawcliffe, ITV’s Director of Entertainment and Daytime, expressed her excitement about the commissioning of The Assembly, saying: “The Assembly is such a distinct, clever, and authentic format and one that we’re absolutely thrilled to commission for a full first series for ITV1 and ITVX. I can’t wait for The Assembly interviewers to ask our brilliant cast of celebrities a plethora of burning questions, which will no doubt make for must-watch TV.”
Rockerdale Studios’ Executive Producers Michelle Singer and Stu Richards also shared their enthusiasm: “We’re absolutely buzzing to be bringing The Assembly to ITV and delighted that, just like us, the team there want to see more of telly’s most mischievous cast putting proper famous types under the microscope.
“This show will be funny and naughty and warm and smart and, bloody hell, we’ve got ourselves all worked up now… we just cannot wait to make it.”
The series is set to air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in 2025.