Wall to Wall has made a major feature-length medical docu-drama co-funded by Channel 4 and the Discovery Channel in the US.
The First New Heart tells the full story of the race to successfully complete the first human heart transplant. The film has been produced to mark the 40th anniversary of the first transplant and will go out this December.
Shot in HD on location in South Africa, the film stars Rupert Graves as the South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard, who made history as the first person to complete the operation, and Ben Miles as his north American rival Norman Shumway.
The programme has been adapted to fit the needs of each broadcaster.
While the C4 version is wholly dramatised, the Discovery cut includes documentary elements and is hosted by Dr Mehmet Oz, one of the world's leading heart-transplant doctors and a regular guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
The film was executive produced by Wall to Wall head of factual Leanne Klein and produced by Simon Chinn. It was ordered by C4 head of specialist factual Hamish Mykura.
Wall to Wall International will be taking the finished programme to MIPCOMin October.
Sales executive Tess Charman said: "Wall to Wall is recognised internationally for the quality and innovation of its productions, and that shines through in this film. We've already had a considerable amount of interest internationally as the subject appeals to such a wide-ranging audience."
For more information contact tess.charman@walltowall.co.uk
