Format

RTÉ in Ireland has partnered with BBC Studios for the international rollout of its new wedding-planning format, My Big Day, Home or Away.

By investing in the original format, BBC Studios has secured the global rights to both the format and the finished programs in all territories outside of Ireland. My Big Day, Home or Away, an original idea developed in-house at RTÉ, premiered as a pilot on RTÉ2 in March of last year. It was subsequently commissioned for a 4×60-minute series that will debut this fall.

In My Big Day: Home or Away, one couple is given the services of two wedding planners—Bruce Russell and Tara Fay in the Irish version—who compete to win the pair over. While one planner arranges a wedding in the couple’s homeland, the other plans a wedding somewhere far-flung. The show ends with the couple marrying at their chosen location, surrounded by family and friends.

Nicki McDermott, head of formats, entertainment and factual entertainment at BBC Studios, said: <em>“We’re delighted to be distributing My Big Day, Home or Away and look forward to seeing how it entertains audiences both in the U.K. and overseas. Feel-good formats are still so popular, so it’s great to have a show like this in our catalog.”</em>

Sean Mac Giolla Phadraig, group head of factual for RTÉ, said: <em>“This format is one of those rare finds where the transition from pilot to series is a very easy decision to make. Audience responses were extremely positive, making it a sure-fire winner in our home territory. BBC Studios’ commitment to a global rollout is a clear testament to its universal appeal. We look forward to proudly seeing this show on screens around the globe.”</em>

Edel Edwards, head of sales at RTÉ, added: <em>“Like all great formats, My Big Day, Home or Away seems so obvious you wonder why nobody’s done it before. Whether you live in Dublin or Delhi, everybody loves a wedding—add the frisson of competition, a delicious dilemma and buckets of genuine emotion, and who could resist? Best of all, thanks to BBC Studios, there will now be a happy ending for many more brides and grooms in many more territories.”</em>