Pitch a Mini BBC Cooking Series for YouTube: A Template Creators Can Use

Hook: Stop guessing what public broadcasters want — pitch like a pro

Creators: you’ve seen headlines about the BBC exploring bespoke shows for YouTube in 2026. You want in — but you don’t have time to draft eight documents, appease commissioners, and guess runtime beats. This guide gives you a ready-to-send pitch template and a compact creative brief modeled on what a public broadcaster like the BBC might greenlight for YouTube. Use it to win commissioning meetings, secure funding tiers, or land platform partnerships.

Why this matters in 2026

Public broadcasters are investing in platform-first content to reach younger viewers. News in early 2026 confirmed landmark talks between the BBC and YouTube about bespoke programming — a clear sign: broadcasters want formats tailored for the algorithm and public remit. That creates a huge opportunity for creators with a clear, broadcaster-ready package: format bible, episode beats, accessible production plan, and measurable KPIs.

“The BBC is preparing to make original shows for YouTube to meet young audiences where they consume content.” — industry reports, Jan 2026

Most important thing first: What to send (one email)

Commissioners are busy. Send one tight email with three attachments: 1) a one-page pitch, 2) a two-page creative brief, and 3) a sample episode rundown (plus links to past work). Below is a ready-to-send email you can copy and paste.

Ready-to-send pitch email (copy/paste)

Subject: Pitch: [Series Title] — a BBC-style YouTube cooking format (Sizzle + Doc)

Hi [Commissioner name],

I’m [Your name], creator of [channel/credits]. I’m pitching [Series Title], a 6×8–12min YouTube cooking series built for public-broadcaster standards and platform-first distribution. The show meets editorial values (accessibility, sustainability, cultural representation) while optimizing for YouTube watch-time and Shorts growth. Attached: a one-page pitch, creative brief, and a sample episode rundown. I’ve also included a 60–90s sizzle link and talent reel.

Key asks: production funding for 6 eps (budget tier options inside), editorial partnership for platform access, and distribution collaboration for Shorts + iPlayer repurpose. Can we set a 20–30 minute call next week?

Best,

[Name — socials — phone — links]

What commissioners actually want (and how to show it)

• Audience fit: Show you’ve mapped to young audiences on YouTube and public-broadcast values.
• Format clarity: One-line premise, episode structure, host profile, and clear deliverables.
• Accessibility & compliance: Captioning, clear allergen labeling, and accessibility built into the plan.
• Measurable KPIs: Watch time, retention, subscriber lift, reach, and brand-lift studies.
• Repurpose plan: Shorts-first clips and iPlayer/linear fallback options.

One-page pitch (template)

Use this as your attachable one-pager. Keep it under 300 words.

Series title: [Title]

Tagline: [1-line hook — who, what, why — 12 words max]

Format snapshot: 6×8–12min (primary) + 6×60–90s Shorts. Platform-first, designed to feed YouTube’s audience graph. Ideal for BBC YouTube commissioning and later iPlayer repurpose.

Why now: (2 sentences) Tie to 2026 trend: BBC platform deals, hunger for diverse food stories, and Shorts-driven subscriber funnels.

Audience: 18–34 food-curious viewers, budget-conscious home cooks, and trend-hungry viewers on mobile.

What success looks like: 6 episodes, 15% avg. retention on long-form, 5M aggregate Shorts views in 3 months, 30k net subscriber lift.

Deliverables: 6×8–12min episodes (Full HD/4K), 6×60–90s Shorts, 18–24 social clips, captions, format bible, and promotional assets.

Creative brief: two-page template (fill-in)

Attach this as a separate PDF. Commissioning editors will love the clarity.

Overview

Series name, elevator pitch, tone (witty, warm, authoritative), editorial remit (education, inclusion, sustainability), and accessibility commitments (captions, audio descriptions).

Target audience & goals

• Primary audience: demographics + viewing habits
• Secondary audience: cooks who convert to subscribers
• Goals: reach, retention, social lift, engagement rate

Episode formula & beats

Include the sample beat templates below for short, mid, and long episodes.

Production

• Team: host, director, DOP, producer, editor, fact-checker, social lead
• Locations: studio kitchen, location shoot per ep
• Technical: cameras, audio, lighting, deliverables (master, proxies, captions)

Distribution & marketing

Primary: YouTube (main video + Shorts). Secondary: BBC iPlayer/audio repurpose, partner playlists, press outreach, influencer clips.

KPIs & measurement

• Watch time per episode
• Average view duration (AVD) and retention curve
• Shorts views, engagement, subscriber acquisition
• Audience demographic growth

Legal & editorial checks

Food-safety sign-off, allergen labels, image rights, music licensing, editorial impartiality notes for public-broadcast standards.

Episode beats: minute-by-minute templates

Structure content to protect watch-time and create natural edit points for Shorts.

Short-form: 3–5 minutes (YouTube priority + repurpose)

1. 00:00–00:08 — Tease: Bold reveal + hook (show final dish visually)
2. 00:08–00:20 — Title and credentials: Host intro + promise
3. 00:20–01:40 — Key steps + visual how-tos (fast, punchy, close-ups)
4. 01:40–02:40 — One deep-tip or myth-bust (adds value)
5. 02:40–03:00 — Final reveal + call to action (subscribe, watch longer)

Mid-form: 8–12 minutes (Primary episode format)

1. 00:00–00:12 — Tease (Stand-out shot + text tease)
2. 00:12–00:40 — Cold open (host + promise)
3. 00:40–02:20 — Ingredients & pantry storytelling
4. 02:20–07:00 — Cooking sequence — layered visual beats, 2–3 teachable moments
5. 07:00–08:40 — Taste test + guest reaction (if any) + cultural context
6. 08:40–09:30 — Final plate + sustainability tip + CTA
7. Chapters: include timestamps for SEO and accessibility

Long-form: 18–25 minutes (Deep-dive episodes)

1. 00:00–00:20 — High-impact montage + hook
2. 00:20–02:30 — Host setup + narrative arc
3. 02:30–10:00 — Technique segment + step-by-step teach
4. 10:00–16:00 — Interview/heritage story or location piece
5. 16:00–20:00 — Final cook + plating + reflection
6. 20:00–22:00 — Credits + accessible recipe card information

Budget tiers (realistic 2026 figures)

Use GBP as baseline for BBC-style pitches; include USD equivalents. These reflect platform-first cooking shows in 2026, with options for in-house or outsourced production.

Low (Micro) — £3k–10k per episode (~$3.8k–12.7k)

• Small crew: host/producer/editor (multi-role)
• Minimal studio rental (home or kitchen build)
• One-camera plus B-roll, stock music, basic captions
• Good for proof-of-concept or pilot

Medium — £15k–40k per episode (~$19k–51k)

• Full small crew: director, DOP, producer, sound, editor, social lead
• Studio kitchen + location day per episode
• Multi-camera, mid-level graphics, bespoke music, professional captions + QC
• Recommended for 6-episode commissioners

High (Commissioned/Broadcast) — £80k–200k per episode (~$101k–252k)

• Full production company team, higher-profile talent, location shoots
• Research, food styling, fact-checking, accessibility suite (audio descriptions)
• Promotion budget, PR, paid shorts seeding, measurement partner
• Suitable for cross-platform commissioning with iPlayer and linear repurpose

Staffing breakdown (medium tier example)

• Producer/Showrunner — editorial lead
• Director/DOP — visual language
• Host/Presenter — talent contract
• Editor + Grade — final cuts + thumbnails
• Sound recordist — clean audio for captions & radio repurpose
• Social editor — clips, captions, Shorts
• Fact-checker & legal — public-broadcaster standards

Distribution plan: platform-first with broadcaster options

Design distribution to feed YouTube’s algorithm while satisfying public-broadcast needs.

• YouTube primary: 8–12min episodes posted weekly. Include chapters, SEO titles, rich descriptions, and pinned comment with recipe card and accessibility links.
• Shorts funnel: 3–6 Shorts per episode (60–90s) published across the week to drive viewers to the long-form episode.
• Community posts & Premiere: Use Premiere with live Q&A or host watch-along to boost initial view velocity.
• BBC/iPlayer repurpose: Offer a rights window that allows episodes to go to iPlayer after a platform-first embargo (e.g., 6–12 weeks).
• Social native: Edit native Clips for X, Instagram Reels, and TikTok with platform-appropriate captions and CTAs.
• Press & partners: Target food media, BBC partner newsletters, and talent cross-promotion.

Caption templates & accessibility (must-haves)

Public broadcasters prioritize accessibility. Include captioning and optional audio descriptions in your budget and workflow.

Caption template (quick format)

Use SRT with speaker labels, non-speech descriptions, and timestamps. Example lines:

• 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:09,000 [HOST]: Hi, I’m [Name] — today we’re making smoky harissa chicken.
• 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,000 [SFX]: sizzling
• 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:45,000 [ON SCREEN TEXT]: Tip — store leftover marinade for 2 days.

Thumbnail, title, and caption strategy for YouTube (2026 best practices)

• Thumbnail: Close-up of finished dish + bold 2–4 word overlay (emotion + promise). Use faces for trust.
• Title: Hook + keyword (e.g., “20-Min Harissa Chicken — No-Fail Weeknight Recipe | [Series Title]”)
• Description: 1-sentence value proposition, recipe card, chapter timestamps, links, and sponsor credits. First 150 characters should contain the primary keyword.
• Pinned comment: Short recipe card, calls to action, and link to full recipe or BBC article if relevant.

Commissioning tips (how to make a broadcaster say yes)

• Lead with impact: Start your one-pager with audience numbers and a one-line outcome (reach + value).
• Show evidence: Include channel analytics, demographic screenshots, and Shorts performance case studies.
• Editorial fit: Spell out how the series meets public-broadcast obligations: education, diversity, accessibility, sustainability.
• Be flexible on rights: Offer time-limited exclusivity to the commissioner with a clear repurpose plan.
• Propose measurement: Offer to run audience research or brand-lift studies that publishers value in 2026.
• Prototype first: Pitch a 1–2 episode paid pilot to de-risk commissioning.

Growth tips & creator leverage (what to do after greenlight)

• Cross-promote: Use Shorts to funnel to long-form; release Shorts before the episode to build pre-launch momentum.
• Clip strategically: Make 10–15s how-to clips and 30–60s personality moments for TikTok and Reels.
• Optimize retention: A/B test different opens, thumbnails, and CTAs for the first 48 hours.
• Data-driven post: Run the first 3 episodes as a small campaign to gather retention curves and iterate editorially.
• Monetize sustainably: Sponsor integrations with ingredient partners, affiliate recipe cards, and paid workshops — but keep editorial integrity.

Quick legal & editorial checklist (non-negotiables)

• Food-safety verification and allergen labeling.
• Music and archive rights secured for all territories you plan to distribute.
• Consent releases for guests and locations.
• Accessibility deliverables: captions, optional audio descriptions, readable recipe PDFs.
• Editorial checks for accuracy and impartiality where applicable.

Sample format bible excerpt (visual & tone guidelines)

Keep this to a page in your bible. Commissioners want to picture the show.

• Visual language: Warm, high-contrast food close-ups; handheld for personality, locked-off for technique; 2–3 color accents per episode.
• Tone: Curious expert — friendly, inclusive, no-nonsense.
• Music: Minimal library underscoring, bumpier cues for Shorts.
• Graphics: Clean, BBC-style lower thirds, ingredient callouts, and carbon/sustainability icons where relevant.

Example KPIs to include in your pitch

• Launch month: 500k–1M total views across long-form and Shorts (medium tier)
• Average view duration: >30–40% of 8–12min runtime
• Subscriber lift: 20k–50k within 3 months
• Shorts views: 2–5M aggregate in 90 days
• Engagement rate on long-form: >5%

Final checklist before you hit send

1. One-page pitch, two-page brief, sample episode, sizzle link, and credits all attached.
2. Budget tiers presented transparently with staffing lists.
3. Accessibility and legal checklist included.
4. Distribution windows and rights spelled out plainly.
5. Measurement plan and pilot option offered.

Parting advice — what commissioners will remember

They’ll remember clarity, evidence, and cultural fit. Tie your creative idea to audience outcomes, platform mechanics (Shorts + watch-time), and the public-broadcaster remit: accessibility, representation, and education. In 2026, a pitch that balances algorithm-savvy execution with editorial trust wins.

Call to action

Use the templates above to assemble your pitch tonight. Need a tailored one-page or budget built around your channel? Reply with your series title and top three episode ideas — I’ll draft a personalised one-pager and a commissioning-ready email you can send in under 20 minutes.

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