William Van Rest, ITV Exec Who Helped ‘Love Island’ Merch Make Millions, Launches Jem Media Ventures
Exclusive: ITV made big bucks from Love Island brand extensions, and the man behind the merchanise millions has now launched his own company.
William Van Rest has set up Jem Media Ventures, a UK-based company designed to help business, brands and talent create ancillary income from IP, including programs and films, plus other assets and unused inventory.
Jem will look to work with producers and distributors to commercially optimize their IP, find IP for companies to license into their operations to develop new commercial products around fandoms and audiences, and establish partnerships with brands and advertisers.
As Jem gears up for a formal launch, the company is already working with unnamed VR firm on several initiatives, helped a global distributor secure a deal to launch a restaurant for an unnamed major TV format and helped a tech start-up win a major media business tender. It has also secured deals to...
William Van Rest has set up Jem Media Ventures, a UK-based company designed to help business, brands and talent create ancillary income from IP, including programs and films, plus other assets and unused inventory.
Jem will look to work with producers and distributors to commercially optimize their IP, find IP for companies to license into their operations to develop new commercial products around fandoms and audiences, and establish partnerships with brands and advertisers.
As Jem gears up for a formal launch, the company is already working with unnamed VR firm on several initiatives, helped a global distributor secure a deal to launch a restaurant for an unnamed major TV format and helped a tech start-up win a major media business tender. It has also secured deals to...
- 1/29/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
The gag about Bullseye is always the speedboat. How many contestants in the ITV darts-based game show that originally ran from 1981 – 1995, had room in their life or garage for occasional Star Prize, the speedboat? (Bullseye presenter Jim Bowen’s 2012 joke to The Mirror that “the only contestants who ever won them lived in top floor flats in Coventry” was taken literally by The Coventry Telegraph who in 2021 launched a local winners search that is presumably ongoing.)
The Bullseye speedboat was its prize anomaly, a symbol of glamour and excitement in a sea of hostess trolleys, sheepskin coats and stainless steel cutlery. After the winning team of two had built their cash fund by answering trivia questions from dart-selected categories, they faced Bully’s Prize Board. There, they threw nine darts in an attempt to win eight prizes plus the bullseye special. Having done that, they had the option to gamble...
The Bullseye speedboat was its prize anomaly, a symbol of glamour and excitement in a sea of hostess trolleys, sheepskin coats and stainless steel cutlery. After the winning team of two had built their cash fund by answering trivia questions from dart-selected categories, they faced Bully’s Prize Board. There, they threw nine darts in an attempt to win eight prizes plus the bullseye special. Having done that, they had the option to gamble...
- 2/13/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Simon Brew Aug 18, 2017
After a career spanning over 70 years, Sir Bruce Forsyth has left us...
Here’s some very sad news. Legend of British television Sir Bruce Forsyth has died, at the age of 89. He had been unwell for some time.
His manager issued a statement, reported by the BBC, saying:
“It is with great sadness that the Forsyth family announce that Sir Bruce passed away this afternoon, peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife Wilnelia and all his children. A couple of weeks ago, a friend visited him and asked him what he had been doing these last 18 months. With a twinkle in his eye, he responded 'I've been very, very busy... being ill!'”.
He leaves behind the kind of body of work that no piece like this can ever do justice too (although I have a real soft spot for the amazing time he hosted Have I Got News For You...
After a career spanning over 70 years, Sir Bruce Forsyth has left us...
Here’s some very sad news. Legend of British television Sir Bruce Forsyth has died, at the age of 89. He had been unwell for some time.
His manager issued a statement, reported by the BBC, saying:
“It is with great sadness that the Forsyth family announce that Sir Bruce passed away this afternoon, peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife Wilnelia and all his children. A couple of weeks ago, a friend visited him and asked him what he had been doing these last 18 months. With a twinkle in his eye, he responded 'I've been very, very busy... being ill!'”.
He leaves behind the kind of body of work that no piece like this can ever do justice too (although I have a real soft spot for the amazing time he hosted Have I Got News For You...
- 8/18/2017
- Den of Geek
Sir Bruce Forsyth has revealed that he thought Strictly Come Dancing was a comedy show after initially being pitched the concept.
The 85-year-old, who co-presents the BBC1 show with Tess Daly, also revealed that he believes he fronted "too many" game shows in the past.
Speaking to Miranda Hart on When Miranda Met Bruce last night (September 21), Forsyth revealed that when first told the premise of Strictly Come Dancing, he believed it would be a more lighthearted and slapstick programme.
"When they pitched it to me I thought it was a comedy show. People would dance and fall all over the place and I would be around there like The Generation Game, helping them.
"But I forgot there is no-one more competitive than a ballroom dancer, so it became a different show. More competitive, and it just worked."
Forsyth, who previously presented shows such as The Price is Right, Play Your Cards Right...
The 85-year-old, who co-presents the BBC1 show with Tess Daly, also revealed that he believes he fronted "too many" game shows in the past.
Speaking to Miranda Hart on When Miranda Met Bruce last night (September 21), Forsyth revealed that when first told the premise of Strictly Come Dancing, he believed it would be a more lighthearted and slapstick programme.
"When they pitched it to me I thought it was a comedy show. People would dance and fall all over the place and I would be around there like The Generation Game, helping them.
"But I forgot there is no-one more competitive than a ballroom dancer, so it became a different show. More competitive, and it just worked."
Forsyth, who previously presented shows such as The Price is Right, Play Your Cards Right...
- 9/21/2013
- Digital Spy
The Seinfeld star discusses the episode that ended his standup career, Daniel Radcliffe and Jon Hamm get revolutionary – and an unexpected side to Bruce Forsyth
The week's comedy news
This week, we finally get the perpetrator's version of one of the most notorious blowouts in recent comedy history, as Seinfeld star Michael Richards opens up to Jerry himself about his racist tirade in a comedy club six years ago. Richards was Seinfeld's guest last week on the latter's new web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, and towards the end of the video the erstwhile Kramer addresses the onstage rant – which took place at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood in 2006 – that seems to have ended his live comedy career. (He hasn't performed since.) In the footage, Richards is undeniably penitent: "Somebody interrupted my act," he remembers, "and said some things that hurt me, and I lashed out in...
The week's comedy news
This week, we finally get the perpetrator's version of one of the most notorious blowouts in recent comedy history, as Seinfeld star Michael Richards opens up to Jerry himself about his racist tirade in a comedy club six years ago. Richards was Seinfeld's guest last week on the latter's new web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, and towards the end of the video the erstwhile Kramer addresses the onstage rant – which took place at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood in 2006 – that seems to have ended his live comedy career. (He hasn't performed since.) In the footage, Richards is undeniably penitent: "Somebody interrupted my act," he remembers, "and said some things that hurt me, and I lashed out in...
- 10/2/2012
- by Brian Logan
- The Guardian - Film News
Play Your Cards Right could return to ITV with a new series, reports have claimed. The game show is currently in the process of being revamped and executives are planning to make a new pilot, according to The Sun. Sir Bruce Forsyth hosted the original show, but he is expected to be replaced by Vernon Kay in the new version. "Dreaming up new game show ideas is not easy so bosses decided to dip into the archives," a source said. "Play Your Cards Right was massively popular and it's an easy concept so they figured let's bring (more)...
- 10/17/2011
- by By Catriona Wightman
- Digital Spy
Strictly Come Dancing host, Bruce Forsyth, has told the Radio Times that he regrets hosting some game shows.
However, he added that hosting some shows was, “money for old rope”.
82-year-old, who has hosted dozens of game shows, including Play Your Cards Right, The Generation Game and Bruce’s Price Is Right, described himself as the “laziest person in the world”.
He added that often, it was possible to film an entire series of a game show in just two weeks, “then take as much time off as you like”.
But he added that doing so meant he could spend more time with his wife, the former Miss World, Wilnelia.
Bruce said, “I regret doing so many game shows, but I started when I met Wilnelia, and we love spending time together…
“You can do a series in two weeks. Then take as much time off as you like. Money for old rope.
However, he added that hosting some shows was, “money for old rope”.
82-year-old, who has hosted dozens of game shows, including Play Your Cards Right, The Generation Game and Bruce’s Price Is Right, described himself as the “laziest person in the world”.
He added that often, it was possible to film an entire series of a game show in just two weeks, “then take as much time off as you like”.
But he added that doing so meant he could spend more time with his wife, the former Miss World, Wilnelia.
Bruce said, “I regret doing so many game shows, but I started when I met Wilnelia, and we love spending time together…
“You can do a series in two weeks. Then take as much time off as you like. Money for old rope.
- 7/13/2010
- by Sarah
- Unreality
Funny thing, double standards. People had a go at Bruce Forsyth when, in the Eighties, he recruited ‘dolly birds’ to flip over giant playing cards on Play Your Cards Right (mind you, Bruce is old, and couldn’t do it himself).But, flash forward to the Tens (we’ll go with that for the time being, unless you can come up with something better) and nobody bats an eyelid when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences drafts in a hot A-list actress to read out the Oscar nominations alongside some wizened old desk jockey. In 2008, for example, Kathy Bates read out the nomin… oh. Well, last year it was the turn of Forest Whitak… ah. Never mind. Forget we mentioned it.Anyway, this year, there’ll be some proper A-list glamour in the form of Get Smart star, Anne Hathaway, who’ll be getting up bright and early...
- 1/27/2010
- EmpireOnline
Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris Hollins, has admitted that he is ready to quit BBC breakfast and move on to more lucrative TV roles.
BBC bosses are said to be so impressed with Chris’ popularity that they are thinking of offering him a job on The One Show, but Chris also has his sights set on Bruce Forsyth’s job..
A source told The Sun: “Winning the show has shown BBC executives just how popular Chris is.
“They know he is after a prime time gig and they are looking at what they can offer him. The One Show would be perfect.”
Chris added:
“I would love to do prime time telly. I have grown up in sport, but I have presented other things and I want to spread my wings and do other stuff.”
Chris said: “Brucie is one of my all-time heroes and you know, Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right,...
BBC bosses are said to be so impressed with Chris’ popularity that they are thinking of offering him a job on The One Show, but Chris also has his sights set on Bruce Forsyth’s job..
A source told The Sun: “Winning the show has shown BBC executives just how popular Chris is.
“They know he is after a prime time gig and they are looking at what they can offer him. The One Show would be perfect.”
Chris added:
“I would love to do prime time telly. I have grown up in sport, but I have presented other things and I want to spread my wings and do other stuff.”
Chris said: “Brucie is one of my all-time heroes and you know, Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right,...
- 12/21/2009
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
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