She's Arrived! ITV2, Lionsgate and Ish Entertainment Bring You 'Paris Hilton's New Best Friend'

August 20, 2008

ITV2 and the UK will be playing host to the ultimate all-American It girl, Paris Hilton, in the brand new and exclusive series co-produced by ITV Productions, Lionsgate and Ish Entertainment, Paris Hilton's New Best Friend (w/t).

Paris Hilton is jetting into the UK with one mission ... to find herself a British best friend!

In the deal brokered by Craig Cegielski, Lionsgate's Executive Vice President, Programming and Sales, International Television, Zai Bennett, Controller of ITV2, and Jay Kandola, ITV's Director of Acquisitions, ITV2 will create an original British version of "Paris Hilton's My New BFF," which will air on MTV in the US and which is already creating a huge stir in the American market. ITV2 has also licensed the US version of the series for broadcast in the UK.

Paris is never far from a whole host of people wanting to be her new best friend, as she sashays from a red carpet event, to fashion shows and parties. It can be a lonely life jetting the world in the blinding glare of the media spotlight, and it's difficult to meet new friends.

Paris Hilton's New Best Friend will follow the captivating Miss Hilton as she flies to the UK for an intensive search for a new friend she can depend on. Providing viewers with a candid insight into her manic world, they will also be privy to the true girl behind the media image through unprecedented exclusive access.

"Everyone knows I love LA," says Hilton, "but London, watch out -- I'm coming to town and bringing my fast-paced life with me. I'm in the UK all the time, but of course I can't bring all my friends, so I've decided to look for a new BFF across the pond. I need a best friend who is hot, who can keep up with me, and most of all, who is real and won't be a backstabber. I'm not leaving London until I find that amazing girl or guy who can meet the challenges of being my British bestie!"

From suburbia to remote villages, a group of hopefuls who all think they have what it takes will be chosen to live in and deal with Paris Hilton's world. Paris will be putting the group through their paces to test their ambition and determination to be crowned as her new best friend!

Will the contestants have the energy to keep up with Paris' dizzying schedule? Will they have the looks and style to effortlessly accompany Miss Hilton down the red carpet, or will they be hopelessly out of their depth? And will they really be genuine friends to Paris?

The ambitious wannabes will be sharing a house and will gradually be eliminated by Paris until one of them will be inaugurated as Paris Hilton's New Best Friend.

"Working with ITV2 through the acquisition of the US series and simultaneously working with them on the commission of the UK version has been remarkable," said Lionsgate's Craig Cegielski. "It speaks to the incredible international star power of Paris Hilton that we can engage a broadcaster such as ITV2 in the commission of this format prior to the launch of the original programme."

Zai Bennett of ITV2 commented: "Paris Hilton is a worldwide phenomenon and ITV2 is the perfect channel for her to make her first ever UK show. Prospective new best friends should form an orderly queue..."

Paris Hilton's initial quest for her true BFF began when Ish Entertainment sold "Paris Hilton's My New BFF" to MTV US. For the series, 20 potential best friends moved to Los Angeles to live in a house and compete in tests of loyalty, endurance and girl politics to prove that they have what it takes to be Paris Hilton's new best friend. The 10 episode series is scheduled to air in the US on MTV in Q4, 2008.

Ish Entertainment's Michael Hirschorn and Stella Stolper are Co-Creators and Executive Producers along with Paris Hilton and her manager, Jason Moore. They have partnered with ITV Productions to fulfill the commission from ITV2. Rachel Ashdown is the Executive Producer for ITV Productions and Jake Attwell is the Series Editor for ITV Productions.

"This is an innovative way to take an exciting US format and bring it to world-wide audiences," says Hirschorn. "Paris is an international star, probably the best known personality in the world. For her to do this show in the UK is a huge coup."

"We're thrilled to be working with Paris again," adds Stolper. "This has been an amazing relationship. I love her energy, her wit, and her drive to be the best in everything she does."

Anyone aged 18-28 who genuinely want to be Paris Hilton's New Best Friend can email paris@itv.com and they will be sent more information and an application form.

Paris Hilton's New Best Friend is an ITV Productions / Lionsgate / Ish Entertainment Production for ITV2. It was commissioned by Commissioning Editor, Entertainment Digital Channels, Claire Zolkwer, and ordered by Controller of ITV2, Zai Bennett.