(18 October 2005 9:00 pm)

CANNES: FremantleMedia, a prominent international content creator, producer and distributor, has secured a commission with new Dutch channel Talpa for telenovela Betty La Fea.

This was announced today by FremantleMedia-owned Dutch production company Blue Circle managing director Monica Galer.

The deal will see the production of 200 episodes of Betty La Fea with an air date set for January 2006. The German adaptation of Betty La Fea, known locally as Verliebt In Berlin, has performed fantastically well.

Sony Entertainment Television (SET) India had secured the same format to create a primetime soap Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin. The show went on to become one of the successful stories of Indian television.

Blue Cricle managing director Monica Galer says: "We are delighted with this latest commission. Talpa is the perfect home for Betty La Fea: the show is sure to bring the channel great ratings and a loyal audience and Talpa will give the production the high-quality profile it so keenly deserves."

Betty La Fea follows the story of Betty, a brilliant economist with a masters degree in finance. She's bright, dedicated and innovative. She has only one flaw. She is ugly.

Betty has given up hope of finding anyone who will see past her looks and so concentrates her energies into her work. But now she needs a job. Fed up with being constantly rejected, Betty applies for a secretarial role at Eco Moda, a top fashion house.

But Armando has other ideas. Much to the surprise of his colleagues, Armando gives Betty a job.

Despite Betty's clumsiness, Armando begins to realise her strengths. She extricates him from illicit romantic dalliances, and keeps fiancee Marcela off his case. And Betty's brilliant business acumen means that a sister company she runs outstrips Eco Moda.

Meanwhile, Betty is falling helplessly and hopelessly in love with Armando. She knows that Armando is way out of her league but Betty pines from afar.

Eco Moda's fortunes slump further and Armando realises that it is on the brink of ruin. Only Betty can help him. Armando knows she is madly in love with him so attempts to seduce her to secure her help. Betty knows Armando is using her - but part of her wants to succumb, if he'll only love her.

Will Betty ignore the alarm bells in her head and leave Armando to be ruined? Or will she take his false affection and risk having her heart broken terribly?