Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide's production base in India will make a local version of the hit reality format Baby Borrowers for new channel NDTV Imagine.

The Indian version of Love Production’s format will be called Pati, Patni Aur Woh (which roughly translates as "Husband, Wife and the Significant Other") and premier on cable and satellite channel NDTV Imagine at the end of September.

The title of the show is not the only change to the format. Instead of teenage couples, the series will test the parenting skills of five celebrity couples during 21 sixty- minute episodes.

All the couples are well known television personalities in India and are either married or dating. The ages of the celebrities range from 24 to 36.

Saul NassΓ©, General Manager and Creative Head of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide Productions India, said: "Baby Borrowers is a unique and highly entertaining format with a social experiment at its heart. It is undoubtedly one of the most interesting reality formats on the market and makes for compelling viewing packed with tears and tantrums, as much from the couples as the terrible twos!

"Baby Borrowers is another example of the success of British programming, and in particular British formats. I am sure it will translate well to the Indian market with Patu, Patni Aur Woh's exciting mix of celebrity glamour and real life drama."

The format has already been licensed by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide to Germany, Belgium and Netherlands while the British series of Baby Borrowers, which aired on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 3, has been sold to Latin America, Spain, Italy and New Zealand. The show also won the award for the Best Youth Programme at the BANFF World Television Awards 2008.

Shailja Kejriwal – EVP Content, NDTV Imagine said: "This is as real as it gets! With Pati, Patni Aur Woh, audiences will see these famous couples in real life situations and be a part of their first journey into parenthood; sharing their joys, sorrows, trials and achievements. We believe that the show will not only resonate with parents but will also be a great learning experience for the younger generation, who plan to start their own families in the future. Patni, Patni Aur Woh promises to be an emotional rollercoaster and many unique situations, each handled differently by the various couples!"

The original Baby Borrowers format by Love Productions was devised as a result of the rising rate of teen pregnancies throughout Europe. This is not a problem in India and as such the decision was taken to use celebrity couples who are interested in finding out what parenting really entails! The show will highlight the pressures and also the joys of raising a family.

The award winning Baby Borrowers format is an ambitious social experiment which puts young couples together for the first time under one roof, where they are then given other people’s babies to look after… swiftly followed by toddlers, pre-teens, teenagers and finally the elderly.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide Productions India has already produced series 3 of India's version of Dancing with the Stars for Sony Entertainment Television. Dancing with the Stars (Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa) is the premier dance show in a market rich with dancing competitions. The programme reaches audiences of over 20 million and attracts some of the biggest names in India.Β 

Cristina Dunn