UNLOCKED was a labour of love in one sense, but mainly born from actual love. A close friend of mine owns a top-notch TV studio and has been an avid supported of what I do for years. He wanted to see me on a platform beyond shopping telly, so he created one for me! He basically pushed me to get off my backside, write some material, and show up... which I did.
We deliberately shot the show live, over several weeks, as a pilot series that we could shop around to broadcasters. It took on a life of its own though and, if we'd have a bit of backing, could have become a YouTube hit in its own right. It's gone but never forgotten. We learned a lot. We got a lot right. We got a lot wrong. There was much more we wanted to do but were limited by budget. However, we're just waiting for the right time (and resources) to bring it back, new and improved... and by popular demand, I hasten to add.
As for Shop on TV, we operate under a very different model. The team is small, focused, and 'elite'. We never waste resources beyond what is needed at each stage of our roadmap. That roadmap is, of course, top secret. What I can say is that, based on where we're at now, we're only 5% down the runway! Where we started was phase one. Freeview is phase two. You'll continue to see regular phases of innovation throughout the ensuing months and, hopefully, years.
There will be more presenters and guests, some new 'discoveries' and some trusted familiar faces. Our front-facing team has to the right fit for our ethos, about which we are very protective. As I always say, to be a 'HIT' we must embody the values of ‘Honesty. Integrity. Trust.’ That is the foundation of everything we do.
Freeview will be an extension of ITV/STV. There are, as you can imagine, limitations with only broadcasting for up to 3 hours per night. We also have physical and technical limitations at our London studio, which prevent us from demonstrating certain products and categories.
With Freeview, we have many more hours to play with. We also have a second, much larger and better-equipped studio, where we can fully spread our wings. You'll see more products on Freeview that won't make it to the ITV/STV broadcast, except as pre-recorded clips.
I hope this answers your questions. Sorry it's been a bit of an essay!
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