China Hua'ce Film and TV has announced plans to work more closely with the UK's biggest commercial TV station, ITV. The move comes after a co-produced entertainment show proved popular with Chinese audiences.

China Huace Film and TV Co., Ltd. announced deeper strategic cooperation with the UK’s biggest commercial TV station ITV in London on February 13.

A Chinese version of the UK's popular show “Dancing on Ice”. Directed by acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou, the TV show features national celebrities and Olympic champions. Starting out as complete beginners, the contestants undergo gruelling training to become a real “Star on Ice”. The show combines innovative design ideas from China and the UK to excite Chinese audience’s passion for winter sports in the lead up to the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games.

"As it is the first time the winter Olympics visited China. There is very good opportunity to introduce some of the sports, some of the skills needed to compete in the winter Olympics to the wider Chinese population. So we thought a figure skating competition was a very good way to introduce the audience to talent. And also the skills that the competing Chinese might need to take part in the winter Olympics," Mike Beale, executive vice president of ITV Studio, said.

The show also one of the achievements of China-UK cultural cooperation in the creative industries. A China-UK TV Co-Production Treaty was signed in December, making the UK only the second country in the world to have a television treaty with China, after New Zealand. TV shows that introduce Chinese cultural elements while still being accessible to foreign audiences are likely to go down well in global markets. so TV co-productions seems a win-win case for both countries.

"I am pretty sure that this is going to be a good start, setting a good example for all the stakeholders and practitioner in the TV production area. And see how the collaboration really create a win-win situation for both sides and in long run," Xiang Xiaowei, minister counselor for Culture of Chinese Embassy in The United Kingdom, said.

Star on Ice' was broadcasted on several Chinese satellite TV channels in January, and will also be sold to outlets across Asia.