Boom spends a summer on the ranch for Channel 5

Boom, the BAFTA award-winning, multi-genre production company has been commissioned by Channel 5 to produce Our Little Farm on the Prairie, a 4 x 60 series following the lives of the Doan family in the state of North Dakota. The series has been commissioned by Daniel Louw, Commissioning Editor, Non-Scripted, Channel 5/Paramount+.

Set on the 17,000 acres of the Doan’s Black Leg Ranch and filmed over the course of the summer, the series will explore their fascinating rural lifestyle and rugged American traditions of this Prairie family. 

At its heart are the Doans, a close-knit family, full of big personalities who have farmed this land for generations.  Clad in their Stetsons and boots, using horses and lassos to round up the cattle, the Doans are real-life cowboys striving to make a living in the modern world.

The series will capture the calving season in full swing, will follow the family across North and South Dakota to compete in local Rodeos, witness the huge operation that is the annual cattle-branding weekend and will also take a look at the family’s other traditional activities among the thriving local community.

The Cardiff-based indie, part of ITV Studios, has also been recommissioned for a fourth series of Skin A&E meaning viewers will get to see more extreme dermatology conditions up close and personal as the specialist clinic opens its doors once again. Skin A&E has also been commissioned by Daniel Louw, Commissioning Editor, Non-Scripted, Channel 5/Paramount+.

The news follows the recent announcement that series two of Boom Kids’ Meet the Experts, which receives funding via the BFI’s Young Audience Content Fund, is among a raft of new and returning shows for Channel 5’s pre-school strand Milkshake!

Sam Grace, Creative Director of Boom and Executive Producer said: “The Doans are an extraordinary family and we just can’t wait to get started at their cattle ranch for a fascinating insight into the ups and downs of their all-American life in the Midwest. With Skin A&E also returning for a fourth series, we’re delighted to be working on multiple projects for Channel 5, which continues to be very supportive of us as a nations-based producer.”

Boom Group is one of Wales’ largest production companies, responsible for over 400 hours of programming annually for Channel 5, Channel 4, S4C, UKTV, BBC and ITV. Its slate includes the recent double Bafta-award winning Big Zuu’s Big Eats for Dave, as well as the forthcoming travelogue for More 4 which will see Alan Carr head off in search of the places that inspired one of the world’s best loved literary figures, Agatha Christie.

Other shows include BBC Three/BBC Wales co-commission Hot Cakes, BBC Daytime series Dom Delivers, S4C’s tense crime drama 35 Diwrnod, produced and adapted into 15 Days for Channel 5, and More 4’s Historic House Rescue.

Boom Group also houses production divisions Boom Cymru, Boom Kids and Boom Social, as well as leading Cardiff and Bristol-based post-production facility Gorilla and Visual Effects and Motion Graphics company, Bait Studio.

Global distribution for Our Little Farm on the Prairie and Skin A&E is handled by ITV Studios.

ENDS

About Channel 5

Channel 5 is a public service broadcaster and the UK’s third largest commercial TV station. Launched in March 1997, Channel 5 has been part of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS) since its acquisition in September 2014.

Channel 5 and its digital brands – 5STAR, 5USA, 5Select, 5ACTION and the on-demand service My5 – offer a diverse range of issue-led documentaries & popular factual celebrating the British countryside and drawing talent to the channel, accessible history, premium drama and critically-acclaimed children’s, news and current affairs programming. Through its agenda-driving commissions, Channel 5 leads on societal issues from inequality to homelessness and mental health, aiming to tell the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the nation. 

In 2018, Channel 5 won its first BAFTA for Cruising with Jane McDonald. The following year, Raped: My Story won best Single Documentary at RTS. In 2020, it won crowned Channel of the Year at the Broadcast Awards and by the RTS. In addition that year, it secured its first-ever Grierson award win in the ‘Best Single Documentary – Domestic’ category with Suicidal: In Our Own Words. In 2021, it won best factual entertainment at the Broadcast Awards for Springtime on the Farm. It also won best drama at Voice of the Listener & Viewer for All Creatures Great & Small the same year.

About Paramount Global

Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic studios, networks and streaming services, its portfolio of consumer brands includes CBS, Showtime Networks, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+, Pluto TV and Simon & Schuster, among others. The company delivers the largest share of the U.S. television audience and boasts one of the industry’s most important and extensive libraries of TV and film titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, Paramount Global provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution and advertising solutions.