Skip to main content

Safety Gear at the Ready as Discovery Reveals the 12 Carvers Competing in the All-New Series A CUT ABOVE, Beginning August 8

Image for the Safety Gear at the Ready as Discovery Reveals the 12 Carvers Competing in the All-New Series A CUT ABOVE, Beginning August 8 press release
A Cut Above
– Hosted by Adam Beach, the 12 episode Discovery original series features homegrown and international chainsaw-wielding carvers competing for a cash prize and the title of “A Cut Above” –
– New episodes and exclusive content available on CTV.ca and the CTV app each week –

TORONTO (July 18, 2022) –  Discovery gears up for a competition series like no other when the all-new Canadian original series, A CUT ABOVE, premieres Monday, August 8 at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT. Also revealed today are the 12 highly skilled carvers who are ready to tackle the ultimate carving competition. The gifted group of chainsaw wielding whizzes from around the world must demonstrate their creativity, strength, and skill, as they turn ordinary logs into extraordinary works of art. Each one-hour episode of A CUT ABOVE sees the talented carvers compete to win both the Quick and Master Carve challenges while racing against the clock in hopes of avoiding weekly elimination. At the end of the entire competition, the artist who out-carves the rest wins a cash prize and is declared “A Cut Above”. As previously announced, Golden Globe-nominated actor, Adam Beach, joins as host alongside world-renowned Canadian chainsaw carver Ryan Cook and esteemed sculptor, Katharine Dowson, who bring their combined expertise and artistic prowess as judges. Meet the 12 cutting edge carvers. For the full carver bios, visit The Lede:   Andrew Mallon, Age 39 Falls Church, VA 8 Years’ Experience “Honestly, if I make it through the first round, I’ll win the whole thing.”   Aya Blane, Age 46 Boonville, NY 17 Years’ Experience “I can’t do anything else. I’m a chainsaw carver.”   Bongo Love, Age 47 Boulder, CO 15 Years’ Experience “It’s a big canvas. I’m just excited, I can’t wait for the outcome.”   Brigitte Lochhead, Age 40 Vancouver, B.C. 14 Years’ Experience “Carving brings me joy. Carving with others amplifies that.”   Chris Wood, Age 52 Newport, Wales 22 Years’ Experience “I like to be energetic in my art – the combination of energy and focus is very meditative for me”   Jesse Toso, Age 46 Vancouver, B.C. 17 Years’ Experience “I love when the wood tells me what it wants to be.”   Joel Palmer, Age 37 Browns Flat, N.B. 9 Years’ Experience “Within seconds I can transform the ordinary, into the extraordinary, revealing the hidden surfaces below, with ease.”   John Hayes, Age 49 Waterford, Ireland 7 Years’ Experience “I’m an ideas man. Lists and details, forget it. But talk to me about an idea, and my brain lights up!”   Junior Henderson, Age 44 Campbell River, B.C. 15 Years’ Experience   “I got into carving because I wanted to be like my Grandfather.”   Ryan Villiers, Age 41 Edmonton, Alta. 4 Years’ Experience “I want to take on as many competitions as possible!”   Sam Bowsher, Age 23 Moffat, Scotland 3 Years’ Experience “All my idols growing up were chainsaw carvers, starting with my Dad.”   Sylvia Itzen, Age 53 Bucholz, Germany 20 Years’ Experience “I have both feet on the ground and I know what I want: to be a great carver.” Each week, viewers can stream new episodes of A CUT ABOVE on CTV.ca and the CTV app, which is also home to behind-the-scenes videos, cast highlights, and more A CUT ABOVE was created and produced by leading global entertainment company, marblemedia, in association with Bell Media for Discovery. For marblemedia, Matt Hornburg, Mark Bishop, and Diane Rankin are Executive Producers, Donna Luke and Carly Spencer are co-Executive Producers, Grant Greschuck is series producer, and the series was created by development producer Kelsey Epsensen. For Bell Media, Tina Apostolopoulos is Sr. Production Executive; Sarah Fowlie is Head of Production, Original Programming; Carlyn Klebuc is General Manager, Original Programming; Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, CTV and Specialty Programming, and General Manager, Discovery Networks. Justin Stockman is Vice-President, Content Development & Programming. Karine Moses is Senior Vice-President, Content Development & News and Vice Chair, Québec, Bell. Distribution360, a marblemedia company, holds worldwide distribution rights.

Social Media

  • Discovery Canada on Facebook
  • Discovery Canada on Twitter
  • Discovery Canada on Instagram
  • Discovery Canada PR on Twitter
  • Discovery Canada PR on Instagram
  • marblemedia on Instagram

About marblemedia

marblemedia is a leading global entertainment company that develops produces and distributes compelling TV, interactive and digital content for audiences of all ages, across media platforms.

With divisions specializing in primetime unscripted and scripted programming complementing its roster of successful kids and family properties, international distribution company Distribution360 and a successful CAVCO certified YouTube channel marbleKids, marblemedia is an expert in delivering premium content that meets the needs of an ever-changing media landscape.

marblemedia’s unscripted series include Netflix Original series Blown Away, Netflix Original series Restaurants on the Edge, TVO’s All-Round Champion, CBC’s Race Against the Tide and CBC’s Best in Miniature. Recent scripted series include the interconnected family comedies The Parker Andersons/Amelia Parker; family comedy Overlord and the Underwoods; and are in development on the drama series Persuasion based on Arlene Dickinson’s bestselling book.

Founded in 2001 by co-CEOs Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg with a vision of creativity, partnership and innovation, the company has offices in Toronto and London, plus a 50-acre production facility located 90 minutes north of Toronto.

About Bell Media Original Programming

Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit series commissioned by CTV include #1 Canadian drama TRANSPLANT; record-breaking Canadian format THE AMAZING RACE CANADA; and comedy series CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING and JANN; as well as upcoming scripted series SULLIVAN’S CROSSING, and unscripted dating series FARMING FOR LOVE. Among the original series on Bell Media specialty and streaming platforms are CTV Life Channel’s culinary series MARY MAKES IT EASY with Mary Berg; CTV Comedy Channel’s ROAST BATTLE CANADA and the upcoming ACTING GOOD. Crave Originals include hit series LETTERKENNY, CANADA’S DRAG RACE, and WAY OVER ME (SORTEZ-MOI DE MOI); docuseries DARK SIDE OF THE RING; and acclaimed documentaries FANNY: THE RIGHT TO ROCK and A.RTIFICIAL I.MMORTALITY. Discovery is home to Bell Media’s hit factual series and franchises HIGHWAY THRU HELL, HEAVY RESCUE: 401, and MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS, and others. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. Learn more at www.BellMedia.ca.

About Discovery

With compelling real-life programming that inspires and entertains, Discovery reveals the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. Discovery offers a signature mix of adrenaline-charged stories, larger-than-life personalities and vivid imagery for viewers with curious minds. With the best factual programming from Canada and around the world, Discovery captures the excitement of a passion for life – one lived fully and at its most extreme. With exceptional and immersive storytelling, the channel offers in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the extraordinary people and places that shape our world. Discovery Canada is a joint venture between Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company, and Discovery Communications Inc. Fan favourite series and exclusive Canadian original Discovery content is available to stream on CTV.ca and the CTV app.

CTV Drama Channel
CTV Drama Channel

THIS JUST IN: HALLMARK CHANNEL GREENLIGHTS NEW, ORIGINAL PRIMETIME SERIES ‘RIDE’ RODEO-THEMED FAMILY DRAMA SET TO PREMIERE IN 2023

Bell Media

Blink49 Studios and Bell Media Strike Long-Term Pact with World Renowned Entertainer Lilly Singh

Get the latest announcements from Bell Media

Subscribe to our media lists to receive official press releases and alerts from Bell Media PR.