Format

CAN’T STOP Media, the London-based boutique distributor, announced that The A Talks, originally known as Les Rencontres du Papotin in France, is set for adaptation in Sweden. SVT1 has commissioned the first season consisting of 6 episodes.

This marks the 5th international adaptation of the format, following successful launches in Poland (Warner Bros Discovery’s TVN), Spain (Mediaset’s Telecinco), Denmark (pubcaster DR1), and the UK's BBC One. Baluba, a Fremantle company, is helming the production of the Swedish iteration, with acclaimed filmmaker Ina Holmqvist serving as the showrunner.

Scheduled for release this fall, the inaugural season will feature some of Sweden’s most prominent personalities, spanning from singers and writers to politicians and actors, who will be interviewed by a group of journalists with autism spectrum disorder. In "The A Talks," no subject is off-limits, promising an unpredictable and riveting experience.

Originally created by Quad+TEN and Kiosco TV and spearheaded by renowned French directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano ("The Intouchables"), The A Talks has been captivating audiences on France 2 since September 2022. The show, now in its 2nd season, has already secured renewal for a third series in 2024-25.

In the UK, the series will debut as The Assembly on BBC One on April 5, featuring actor Michael Sheen.

The A Talks has also found success on DR1 in Denmark, where the initial two episodes achieved an impressive 34% share. Additional episodes are on the horizon.

In Poland, the show premiered on Warner Bros Discovery's TVN in November, garnering an average 11.4% share among the 20-54 commercial target audience (a 33% increase compared to TVN’s October average).

In Spain, the format, titled 100% Unicos, launched in December on Telecinco (a part of Mediaset España) with Antonio Banderas as the inaugural guest. More episodes are slated for 2024.

These commissions stem from a plethora of options signed by CAN’T STOP Media, with Warner Bros International TV Production (WBITVP) handling the show in Flemish Belgium and the Netherlands, Fremantle in the Nordics, Ballandi in Italy, Seapoint in Germany, Avanti in Quebec, Rockerdale Studios in the UK, Mark Fennessy’s Helium in Australia and New Zealand, Banijay in Portugal and Spain, and Kite Entertainment in Ireland. Several additional commissions are on the horizon, solidifying "The A Talks" as one of the most successful original formats launched in recent memory.

Damien Porte, co-founder of CAN’T STOP Media, comments: “SVT’s commission is another testament to the strength of the format. With a blend of commercial networks and public broadcasters, we couldn't have asked for a better international debut for the show.”

Tobias Björling, commissioning editor at SVT, adds: “We're thrilled to have this heartwarming series in production and are confident it will resonate well with our viewers.”

Lotta Hellman, head of production at Baluba, expresses: “We are thrilled to produce this unique and soulful format for the Swedish audience. It feels meaningful and hopeful in otherwise dark times.”