Supermarket Sweep

TV Programmes
Equipment Rental
UK

Supermarket Sweep returned to British screens on ITV2 in 2019 with brand-new host Rylan Clark-Neal. Over the course of the stripped four week show, which is made by Thames, part of Fremantle, the reincarnation of the supermarket based extravaganza saw many of the iconic elements of the past returning, from the inflatable to the catchphrases and even those memorable jumpers. In 2020 it was confirmed that Rylan would return for a second series with a new home on ITV.

The game consists of three teams of two, each with a clock that starts with 60 seconds on it. The teams then attempt to add as much time as possible to their clock by answering questions and riddles posed by the host. The time they accumulate determines how long they have in the ‘Big Sweep’ round to run around a studio mock-up of a supermarket, collecting shopping items. The team with the shopping trolley filled with items of the most value wins the chance to enter the final ‘Super Sweep’ prize round. Within the game there were a number of rounds.

All the broadcast equipment for Supermarket Sweep has been provided by Gravity Media and includes six Sony HDC2500/L HD multi-format colour camera heads, one Sony HDC-4300, large box, studio box & wide-angle lenses as well as EVS XT3 Channel Max HD servers.

The current filming at Maidstone Studios of course follows all the necessary COVID-19 related social distancing requirements. Installing Perspex screens within their galleries, ensuring the entire site has been taped to show the two-metre distancing rule, providing hand sanitiser and reconfiguring the production offices so that productions aren’t sitting face to face are the main changes they have implemented.  Due to their ample facilities they have the flexibility to allow productions to use multiple make up rooms, dressing rooms and production offices.

Maidstone Studios (formerly called TVS Television South) has one of the UK’s largest regional  independent television studio and has been home to a vast selection of independent British television programming including Inside No 9 Live, The Split, Catchphrase, Rugby World Cup 2019,  ‘Later Live with Jools Holland’  and Jools Holland’s annual Hootenanny.

In 2002 the studios underwent a £2 million refurbishment under the helm of ex-BBC producer Geoff Miles – head of the consortium who bought the studios.  A new HD studio (Studio 1) was opened (12,000 square feet/ 1,100 m2) able to accommodate a 2,400 standing or 1,200 seated audience with large to huge seized sets. Studio 2 (6,000 square feet/ 560 m2) handles a 250 seated audience with medium to large sized sets. Both studios have impressive production galleries, are fully air-conditioned and can operate in HD or 4k.   

Maidstone Studios is also equipped with a dubbing and Foley facilities, 26 dressing rooms, 6 green rooms, onsite restaurant, cinema, bar and production & wardrobe departments, scenery departments, transmission and playback facilities. The 700 square feet (65 m2) American Diner is also offered as a filming location.

On the Maidstone Studios premises, their sister company, Custodian Data Centre, offers server rack space for local, national and international companies and has one of the most connected networks in the UK allowing Maidstone Studios to broadcast to almost anywhere in the world.

To find out how Gravity Media can help you with your next production email enquiries@gravitymedia.com.