THE DETECTIVE ACADEMY: NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES COMPETITION FORMAT IN DEVELOPMENT

Remarkable Entertainment, part of Banijay UK, have announced it has struck a deal with the The Conan Doyle Estate to develop a new entertainment/reality TV format set in the world of Sherlock Holmes for a UK broadcaster.

The series, currently titled Sherlock: The Detective Academy, will "test players' powers of deduction and logic as they attempt to solve puzzling crimes from the world of the famous detective". Further format details will be announced in due course.

Tamara Gilder and Cat Lawson, Joint MDs of Remarkable Entertainment, said:  "Sherlock Holmes is the most famous literary detective of all time, so we’re absolutely thrilled to have signed this deal with The Arthur Conan Doyle Estate. What an incredible legacy of work – especially the Sherlock Holmes stories. His world offers a truly epic creative backdrop for the next big non-scripted competition...

"Our partnership opens the door to a rich universe of iconic IP. The Detective Academy (w/t) will immerse contestants in a visually stunning mystery world, where their powers of observation and deduction are put to the ultimate test. There is simply no greater figure in detective fiction – Sherlock Holmes defined the genre and continues to inspire new generations of armchair detectives around the world...

"Working in close collaboration with The Arthur Conan Doyle Estate, the guardians of Conan Doyle’s work and his incredible characters, including the world-famous detective, will ensure the format and its contestants are immersed in the most authentic world of Sherlock Holmes."

Tim Hubbard, Creative Director and Global Partnerships at The Conan Doyle Estate, added:  "The Game’s Afoot! One of Conan Doyle’s most iconic slogans within the Sherlock Holmes stories. It certainly is now! Remarkable Entertainment’s brilliant concept and dedication to the thrill of the game and dedication not only to the great detective, but to Doyle’s genius storytelling, plots and scene setting made this the absolute favourite for our partnership... 

"The Sherlock Holmes stories revolutionized policing and investigation. Scientific method, forensic science, and deductive reasoning into crime-solving. His influence helped shift real-world detective work from intuition and guesswork to logic, observation, and evidence-based techniques. Can the contestants match the great Sherlock?"

Meanwhile, Netflix have announced the commission of new reality competition series, The Golden Ticket, inspired by Wonka and Road Dahl's 1964 novel Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

The show is the latest Roald Dahl project from Netflix, who partnered with the Road Dahl Story in 2021. This all-new immersive series will see a group of contestants step into the 'whimsical wonderland' - if they have a golden ticket.

However, the golden ticket will only take the players so far and to succeed they will need to adapt and strategise as they take on games, tests and temptations designed to prove their instincts, resilience, and ability to thrive in the chaos of a retro-futuristic dreamscape.

Jeff Gaspin, Vice President of Unscripted at Netflix, commented: "We are thrilled to bring the magic of The Chocolate Factory to life like never before. This one-of-a-kind reality competition blends adventure, strategy, and social dynamics, creating an experience that is as captivating as it is unpredictable. For the first time, a lucky few won’t just have to imagine the experience - they’ll get to step inside the factory and live it."

More details on both titles will be announced in due course.

Sherlock Holmes thumbnail: Sky History