Global content creator, producer and distributor Endemol Shine Group today announced the first international deal for brand-new factual thriller The Heist.

Simpel Media, part of Endemol Shine Netherlands, has been commissioned by AVROTROS/NPO3 to produce an 8×50’ series of the entertainment format, which sees ordinary citizens commit a heist and attempt to evade a team of expert detectives in order to pocket a large sum of cash. Known locally in the Netherlands as De Buit, the series wrapped filming last week and will air in early 2019.

Created by Shine TV, part of Endemol Shine UK, the makers of Hunted and The Island, The Heist is set to debut in the UK on Sky One this Autumn. The 6×60’ series will use the latest cameras in the world of cinematography combined with brand new 4G streaming technologies.

In a picturesque town a group of law-abiding citizens embark on a journey into an extraordinary life of crime. They’ve been tipped off that a cash-in-transit van containing a large sum of money will be left unattended for a short amount of time. If they can successfully plan and execute a heist, and keep the loot hidden from a crack team of detectives for two weeks, it’s theirs to keep. But as news of the crime sweeps the town, investigators will stop at nothing to catch the thieves. Using modern policing techniques, they attempt to track down, arrest and charge those involved in the heist.

Lisa Perrin, Endemol Shine Group’s CEO of Creative Networks says: “The Heist is a compelling and entertaining detective series which will leave viewers gripped. Landing its first international deal ahead of both its UK premiere on Sky One and its MIPCOM debut speaks volumes about the format that Shine TV have created. Simpel Media have a brilliant pedigree in producing factual series’ and we can’t wait for audiences on both sides of the channel to watch it.”

Laurens Woldberg, Managing Director of Simpel Media added: “We are very proud to have had the chance to pitch and produce this fantastic and ambitious project. We are confident that The Heist will reach a large audience in the Netherlands and grow into an annual TV event.”

Simpel Media are leaders in factual programming and have previously adapted Shine TV formats Hunted and The Island for Dutch viewers. Hunted is now in its third series on NPO 3.

Shine TV is one of the UK’s leading producers of popular factual television, making a diverse range of shows from one-off documentaries to long running series. The company is the producer of MasterChef (BBC One), Celebrity MasterChef (BBC One) and MasterChef: The Professionals (BBC Two). MasterChef continues to be the BBC’s highest rating cooking show and the world’s most successful cookery format.

The format will be among Endemol Shine Group’s highlights at MIPCOM 2018 and will be showcased in an exclusive invitation only event in Cannes on Tuesday 16th October.