Lineup Industries announced that its hit format Long Lost Family was commissioned by TV Nova in the Czech Republic. The owner of the channel – Central European Media Enterprises (CME) - has also optioned the linear rights to Long Lost Family for Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia and Slovakia.

In other markets, the series is relaunching on TV 2 in Denmark for season 17, returning to air after a two-year hiatus. In the UK, ITV has commissioned season 13. This deal brings the total to 18 countries commissioning a local version of the show.

Over the course of two decades on air, Long Lost Family has been produced for channels including TLC in the US, NPO1 in the Netherlands, Sweden’s TV4, Reshet in Israel, TEN in Australia, DR Denmark and the UK’s ITV. Spin-off show "Born Without Trace" is also a success in its own right and the UK iteration of the Long Lost Family franchise has been recognised by awards from BAFTA, Grierson, National TV and TV Choice.

In each episode of Long Lost Family viewers are taken on a moving journey, from the revealing moment relatives are told their loved one has been traced, to the raw moment of the reunion. Long Lost Family explores the background and social context of each family’s estrangement and why it occurred.

Julian Curtis, Founder of Lineup Industries, said: “This format never ceases to appeal, with both the format and tape versions continuing to go from strength to strength all over the globe. That we’re adding new territories for the format, as well as seeing it return to audiences in key markets, underscores how resonant bringing people back together is with audiences all over the world.”