News Broadcasting
BBC takes ‘Dirty Totten Cheater’ from Distraction Formats
MUMBAI: Distraction Formats has announced that UK pubcaster the BBC has taken on Dirty Rotten Cheater, the interactive and comical game show format that involves strategies, tactics and a whole lot of cheating. In India a local version airs on Star.
In the UK the show will be hosted by Brian Conley. It encompasses sincerity and deception in which contestants answer survey style questions in a quest to win the money. With one of the contestants secretly being fed the answers, the honest players must try and expose ‘The Cheater’ in order to take home any winnings. Filled with suspense as to who is being honest and who is cheating, the show climaxes with two final contestants competing for the highest prize.
BBC international development executive David Morgenstern says, “Dirty Rotten Cheater is a classic gameshow format with a very strong structure. We’re going into development and preproduction very shortly. Brian loves the concept and we’re looking forward to turning Dirty Rotten Cheater into a great vehicle for his talents.
Sarah Coursey, who brokered the deal at Distraction Formats commented; “We are obviously very happy to have placed Dirty Rotten Cheater with the BBC. Dirty Rotten Cheater is simply a strong, tried and tested format based on the universal theme of cheating. I’m very much looking forward to the BBC’s interpretation of it.”
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
