Australia’s Seven Network and Channel 4 have greenlit the first version of smash reality format Made in Chelsea outside the UK.
The pair are heading to Sydney, where Made in Bondi [working title] will follow the lives and loves of the Australian city’s young, social elite. Set in one of Sydney’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, the show looks set to follow a similar format to Made in Chelsea, with episodes “providing a front-row seat to jaw-dropping parties, breathtaking fashion and sizzling romances,” according to the logline.
Made in Bondi will air on Channel 4 portfolio channel E4 in the UK and Channel 7/7plus in Australia. Made in Chelsea producer Monkey and Australia’s Matchbox Pictures, which are both owned by Universal International Studios, are co-producing. NBCUniversal Global Distribution will handle international sales.
“The BAFTA Award-winning Made in Chelsea is a true phenomenon of the reality TV genre and we can’t wait to bring the Australian version to the screens of Seven and beyond in 2024,” said the network’s Chief Content Officer Angus Ross.
Channel 4 Head of Youth Karl Warner added that Made in Chelsea “has been the jewel in E4’s crown for over 10 years and has become one of the most important digital brands in the C4 portfolio, loved by our audiences across a range of platforms.”
Made in Chelsea has been a huge hit for E4, running for 26 seasons across more than a decade and making household names of the likes of Spencer Matthews, Mark Francis and Millie Mackintosh. Some of the latest seasons are available on Peacock in the U.S.
Channel 4 has also had success with Australian reality of late. Married at First Sight Australia has topped ratings on E4 and driven success for the UK version, which switched format to mirror the Australian MAFS in 2021.