Producer Frazer Yorke knows quite a bit about what makes for captivating entertainment. He’s worked with an eclectic group of celebrities ranging from Grammy Award–winner Bruno Mars to BAFTA Award–winning comedian Alan Carr. Producing for shows like The Apprentice: You’re Fired (BBC) and (BAFTA Award–winner) Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway requires a different approach from Frazer than Big Brother or Stand Up To Cancer but it’s the challenge that attracts him. He readily admits that one of the most daunting challenges of his career came unexpectedly to him, as it did to the entire planet when Covid-19 completely changed the social interaction of humans. As the producer for MTV’s smash hit series Catfish, Yorke was fairly new to the show when the pandemic shutdown occurred. The task in front of Frazer and his team was how to retain the soul of Catfish and its relationship-centric storyline while keeping the audience’s loyalty and engagement. A recent recipient of the MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Real-Life Mystery or Crime Series attests to the achievement of this goal with resounding success for Catfish and Frazer. The producer notes that this recognition was even sweeter for the entire team at Catfish because they were embarking into undiscovered territory and pushing their creativity to new realms.
Catfish became a hit series because of the intrigue in so many relationships existing within the online and in-person union. The solution to keeping Catfish in production was both easy and incredibly complex; take the show completely virtual but yet somehow make it still intriguing in an environment that adhered to Covid protocol standards. It was clear that this new direction laid responsibility on an expert story producing eye. Frazer worked closely with casting director Rachel Kroes (also known for her work on The Daytime Emmy Award–nominated Dream Home Makeover) in defining a new methodology to deliver stories and characters equally compelling to that of previous seasons of the program, if not more so. He remarks, “We had to take all of the story and intrigue of a sprawling in person shoot and have it translate in a zoom call setting. I’m extra proud of delivering stories and characters that were so compelling that they worked in a more limited filming environment.” Yorke had been procured in 2019 due to his success in both US and UK productions for iconic names like the BBC and CBS. The intention was that he would bring in international stories and widen the scope of the show. When the world began connecting virtually during Covid, Frazer became one of the most valuable assets the show possessed.
While the manner of obtaining and presenting the stories of Catfish has been drastically different over the past year and a half, the show has confirmed one fact; people still have the same desire to connect. The love and drama which are the core of this show exist in all forms of entertainment but what is different about Catfish is that it intends to promote positive change. Frazer states, “The most rewarding part of my involvement in the show is seeing real people getting the answers they have been looking for from their online relationship. I’m immensely proud to work on a reality show that has integrity and heart. Catfish truly helps people. It’s one thing to make great television but yet another thing to know that you’ve also helped someone to find their happy ending. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly and it’s why I love every second of my involvement.”
Frazer Yorke sees a long future ahead for Catfish and declares, “Our show has had to evolve as technology has changed the way people meet each other online. I have to keep ahead of every new type of social media or AI product that could be a part of someone’s story. Even though it’s taxing, it’s also one of the most fascinating parts of working on this series. I’ve gotten to learn about whole worlds that exist online that otherwise I would have no idea existed. I’m gneuinely excited to be a part of something that evolves along with society and people.”
Writer : Basil Thomson