One liners
The Afterparty cancelled by AppleTV+ after two seasons
‘Miracle Workers’ cancelled after 4 seasons at TBS
BBC has cancelled David Mitchell’s Upstart Crow
‘Only Murders in the Building’ renewed for season 4 at Hulu
ABC has cancelled Home Economics after three seasons
‘The Wonder Years’ cancelled at ABC after 2 seasons
Sky confirms that And Just Like That…, has been renewed for a third season
Alan Carr’s Changing Ends renewed for second series
Hulu cancels How I Met Your Father after season 2
Netflix has renewed Rob Lowe and John Owen Lowe’s UNSTABLE for a second season.
Shrinking renewed for season 2 by Apple TV+
‘Somebody Somewhere’ Renewed For Season 3 At HBO
Killing It the Peacock (NBC) comedy has been renewed for a second season
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UKTV announces creation of ‘U’ - a new brand to unite its free TV and digital portfolio
UKTV has announced its intention to launch ‘U’ next year – a new masterbrand that will unite its family of free-to-air channels and its free streaming service.
Launching in Summer 2024, the move will see its current streaming service UKTV Play transition to U and UKTV’s family of free-to-air channels will become U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&YESTERDAY and U&W.
Penny Brough, UKTV’s Chief Marketing Officer, said:
For 30 years, UKTV has had shows that people are passionate about – crime, drama, witty comedy and more – but until now it’s felt disconnected. We want to make sure our audiences can enjoy the full value of our free and wonderfully diverse offer, so we’re making it easier for them to navigate. U is the glue that enables us to do this: it means we go to market with a bold, simple and distinctive identity for our streaming service. U makes it easy for people to connect the dots between the streaming service and our family of TV channels – all while keeping hold of each channel’s unique personality and fame. This is now a family that’s fit for a digital future. It’s simple, but still full of personality because it’s all about U.
The U streaming service, created in partnership with global brand consultancy Wolff Olins, will become home to thousands of hours of free content from a raft of genres, including: drama (Annika, Holby City, Madam Secretary, Sister Boniface Mysteries, A Million Little Things), comedy (Meet the Richardsons, Red Dwarf, Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, We Are Not Alone), entertainment (Big Zuu’s Big Eats, David Mitchell’s Outsiders, QI, Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable, World’s Most Dangerous Roads), and factual entertainment (Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, Masterchef Australia, Katie Piper: Jailhouse Mums, Secrets of the London Underground, Bangers & Cash). U will also give viewers access to exclusive shows, award-winning originals, premiere acquisitions and iconic programmes from the BBC.
David Stevens, Executive Strategy Director at Wolff Olins, said:
The entertainment market is so awash with confusing and bizarrely named offers, so we wanted to strip back, reduce the noise and present this family of brands in a clear, crisp, singular way. The new ‘U’ name is a nod to UKTV’s heritage, while emphasising that this new viewing experience is all about you. We’re excited about creating a bold brand that will stand out but won’t get in the way. We wanted to unite an eclectic portfolio, but hold onto the personality, and help you to lose yourself in what you love.
UKTV has an ambitious growth strategy, focussed on supercharging its streaming service and growing its linear channels. A key driver of this is connecting and better leveraging the brands within UKTV’s estate. The launch of this new masterbrand supports this strategy by making it easier for users to navigate both online and on-air, as well as creating a halo effect in brand marketing across the portfolio and ultimately building equity into a more unified family of brands. The simplicity of the new U brand architecture also retains the names and equity of the existing channel brands that are well-known and loved across the UK.
As part of the company’s transformation plans, UKTV Play has already evolved into a digital streaming destination with a plethora of free content to suit all tastes. Its popularity has propelled the service to grow views by 69% since the start of the year (Jan-Aug), and with FAST channels set to debut on the service in 2024, viewers have even more choice to look forward to.
The new U visual identity and brand architecture is set to be unveiled in 2024. Wolff Olins is working alongside UKTV’s own in-house Creative team on a suite of assets for the rebrand, which will simultaneously launch across UKTV’s free-to-air channels and its streaming service next year.
UKTV’s pay channels Alibi, Gold and Eden will transition to U&alibi, U&GOLD, U&eden at a later date, uniting the full network under the U brand.
The Heist Before Christmas
Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner), James Nesbitt (The Missing) star as two opposing Santas in the first look trailer for the The Heist Before Christmas which will premiere on Sky Max and streaming service NOW this festive season. Set in Northern Ireland, the Sky Original also stars; Laura Donnelly (The Nevers), Bronagh Waugh (The Fall) and introduces young stars Bamber Todd and Joshua McLees as Mikey and Sean Collins.
Deborah Meaden, entrepreneur and star of Dragons’ Den, Kojey Radical. Mercury Prize and MOBO Award nominated music artist, Lenny Rush, BAFTA winning comic actor; star of Am I Being Unreasonable?, Steve Backshall, TV presenter, adventurer, author and wildlife expert, Zoe Ball, radio and television presenter.
The line up for series 17, which has already been recorded, will be revealed in the new year.
Three Stand Up Specials From Sky
Receive the gift of laughter this Christmas, as three stand-up specials, from some of the UK’s favourite comics, will be dropping down the chimney exclusive to Sky Comedy this festive season.
James Acaster: Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 airs 12th December on Sky Comedy and NOW
Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?! airs next month on Sky Comedy and NOW
Alan Carr: Regional Trinket will air this Christmas on Sky Comedy and NOW
‘Extended Family’ NBC Sitcom
Extended Family premieres on Tuesday, Jan. 2 on NBC.
The show created by Mike O’Malley follows Jim (Cryer) and Julia (Spencer) after an amicable divorce, deciding to continue to raise their kids at the family home while taking turns on who gets to stay with them.
Navigating the waters of divorce and child-sharing gets complicated.
The brand-new six-part series, created by award winning writer Daniel Lawrence Taylor (Timewasters), follows five talented under privileged black students from inner-city London as they gain scholarships at St. Gilberts, an elite boarding school. Made by Studio Lambert (The Nest, Three Girls), in association with All3Media International for the BBC, the series will air on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in 2024.
Death In Paradise Christmas Special
When entrepreneur and family man, Gerry Stableforth (Geoff Bell), is found dead in a ravine, his family – wife, Bella (Patsy Kensit), children Benjamin (Freddy Carter), Mariana (Amelia Clarkson), and niece Riley (Leila Khan) – are left in shock. As DI Neville Parker, DS Naomi Thomas, Officer Marlon Pryce and Trainee Officer Darlene Curtis set to work on cracking this mysterious death, things take a turn as the family’s visiting digital marketing guru, Debbie Clumson (Bronagh Waugh), suddenly disappears. Once news of Debbie’s disappearance reaches home, her hapless partner, Dave (Youssef Kerkour), is determined to find out what happened to her.
Meanwhile, Neville’s larger-than-life mum, Melanie (Doon Mackichan), arrives on the island to spend Christmas with her son in the sun. Quickly striking up a fabulous friendship with Catherine Bordey, the pair take the Saint Marie dating scene by storm. But not before Melanie attempts to impart some words of wisdom upon her love-scarred son, who is battling the notion that some people just aren’t meant to find love, with him being one of them…
The feature-length episode will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this festive season
ITV has commissioned Piglets
Piglets is a brand-new comedy from Monicker Pictures.
Set in a fictional police training college, “Piglets” is about a newly recruited group of six very different would-be cops and the handful of key staff whose thankless task it is to knock them into some kind of shape.
Piglets is written by Victoria Pile, Robert Harley, James Henry, Oriane Messina and Fay Rusling – the team responsible for Green Wing and Campus (Channel 4) – and Omar Khan, participant in the ITV Comedy Writers Initiative
Unstable Renewal
Netflix has renewed UNSTABLE for a second season.
Rob Lowe and John Owen Lowe’s exclusive statement on the renewal to Netflix’s Tudum.com: “It’s a dream come true for us to jump back into the world of Unstable. Here’s to season two and the many hours of family therapy that we will need along the way.”
Verified Stand-Up
10 comics. 10 sets. 1 show. Verified Stand-Up, featuring 10 of the best US comedians in the game: Asif Ali, Dulcé Sloan, Gianmarco Soresi, Isiah Kelly, Leslie Liao, Nimesh Patel, Robby Hoffman, Rosebud Baker, Sabrina Wu, and Vanessa Gonzalez. Streaming November 28 – only on Netflix
are back for the brand new feature-length Murder They Hope mystery, Blood Actually.
Douglas Is Cancelled
Karen Gillan is set to star alongside Hugh Bonneville in a new ITVX dramedy from Steven Moffat about cancel culture, Variety revealed.
“Douglas Is Cancelled” will see Hugh Bonneville play a middle aged and widely-respected news anchor called Douglas Bellowes while Gillan stars as his canny sidekick Madeline.
Following the huge success of the global hit film franchise, Ted, Sky has revealed that the bear is taking over the small screen in a 7-episode prequel series, available exclusively in the UK and Ireland on Sky Max, early next year.
It’s 1993, and Ted the bear’s (Seth MacFarlane) moment of fame has passed. He’s now living back home in Framingham, Massachusetts with his best friend, 16-year-old John Bennett (Max Burkholder), along with John’s parents, Matty and Susan (Scott Grimes and Alanna Ubach) and cousin Blaire (Giorgia Whigham). Ted may be a lousy influence on John, but at the end of the day, he’s a loyal pal who’s always willing to go out on a limb for friendship.
All Grown Up Now
The upcoming seventh season of the CBS series Young Sheldon will be its last.
The series, a prequel to very successful The Big Bang Theory will return next year on February 15 and end its run with an hourlong episode on May 16.
Such Brave Girls is available from Wednesday 22nd November at 10pm on BBC Three and BBCiPlayer.
Dysfunctional family sitcom following sisters Josie (Kat Sadler) and Billie (played by Kat’s real-life
sister, Lizzie Davidson) and their single mother Deb (Louise Brealey) navigating life armed with
nothing but poor judgement and self-esteem exclusively tied to people who couldn’t care less
about them. They’re vain, selfish, heavily in debt, pathologically desperate for affection and
bursting with misplaced, terrifying love.
Such Brave Girls is a VAL/A24 production (6 x 30) for BBC Three and BBC iPlayer. It was
commissioned by Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy at the BBC. The Executive Producers for VAL
are Jack Bayles and Phil Clarke and the Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Gregor Sharp.
Comedy News 14.11.2023
Snippets
Peacock acquires U.S. rights to ‘Hapless’ starring Tim Downie
Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’ moving production to Ireland for Spring start
Kevin James’ new stand-up special, Irregardless, is on Prime Video Winter 2024.
Big Boys back in January
Jack Rooke’s critically acclaimed and multi-award winning comedy from Roughcut TV returns in January 2024 starring Dylan Llewellyn, Jon Pointing, Camille Coduri, Katy Wix, Izuka Hoyle, Olisa Odele, Harriet Webb and Annette Badland.
Series two takes the whole gang straight into the second year of Brent University 2014, where alongside dealing with virginity hang-ups, drug experimentation (both legal and otherwise) and Jack’s obsession with Alison Hammond, this time round their degrees actually count!
Meanwhile Jack’s family continue to navigate their lives after his Dad’s passing, beginning just as much of a new chapter as the gang at university. And Danny gets to revisit his past as he learns how to better deal with his mental health issues.
Sally Phillips and Ben Miller Star in new Australian comedy
Filming has begun in Canberra on Austin, a charming new eight-part narrative comedy series for the ABC.
Produced by the multi-award-winning team at Northern Pictures, Austin stars two of the UK’s most-loved performers, Ben Miller (Bridgerton, Death in Paradise) and Sally Phillips (Veep, Bridget Jones’s Diary), along with favourite Australian actors Gia Carides (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Big Little Lies) and Roy Billing (Jack Irish, Underbelly). Making his acting debut is Michael Theo, the breakout star of the ABC’s international hit series Love on the Spectrum.
When much-loved children’s author Julian Hartswood (Ben Miller) inadvertently causes a social media storm, his career and that of his illustrator wife Ingrid (Sally Phillips) appears to be over. That is until Austin (Michael Theo), the neurodivergent son that Julian never knew existed, turns up out of the blue. Could embracing this modern nuclear family be Julian’s route back from cancellation? Will Ingrid forgive him for being such a pompous shit? One thing is for certain: if Julian thinks Austin is going to be a push over, he’s in for a rude awakening.
The Max Original comedy series BOOKIE, from Chuck Lorre, starring Sebastian Maniscalco, debuts with two episodes THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30 on Max. The eight-episode series will debut two episodes on Thursdays leading up to the season finale on December 21.- This darkly funny comedy follows Los Angeles bookie Danny (Sebastian Maniscalco) as the potential legalization of sports gambling in California threatens to upend his business.
SAG-AFTRA Lauds New Deal
“As of 12:01am PT on Nov. 9, our strike is officially suspended and all picket locations are closed. We will be in touch in the coming days with information about celebration gatherings around the country,” The union added: “In a contract valued at over one billion dollars, we have achieved a deal of extraordinary scopeA said in a note to members
Contestants on the new series of Celebrity Mastermind will include Jayde Adams, Rosie Jones, Jamie MacDonald, Sara Barron, Jo Coffey and Danny O’Carroll
Filming started this week on a second series starring Romesh Ranganathan, Jessica Knappett, Kieran Logendra, Mandeep Dhillon, Lisa McGrillis and Bruce Mackinnon.
Joining them for the second series are Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter), Aisling Bea (This Way Up), Louise Ford (The Windsors), Olive Tennant (Belfast), Alex Ranganathan, Jessica Ransom (Horrible Histories), Paula Wilcox (Upstart Crow), Philip Jackson (Brassed Off), Ed Kear (Here We Go), Colin Hoult (Murder in Successville), Michael Spicer (The Room Next Door),and Brona C Titley (The Outlaws).
Romesh Ranganathan says: “I’m delighted to be back on set with this amazing cast, so much so it almost makes up for the crushing agony of my recent spandex-filled wardrobe fitting…”
It was created by Romesh Ranganathan and Benjamin Green, who also directs. The series is written by Romesh Ranganathan, Benjamin Green and Jessica Knappett.
Scheduling will be announced in due course. Review of Series 1 here
Brand new comedy on ITVX
G’wed is a brand new 6 x 30 comedy that will drop on ITVX in 2024.
Set in Liverpool and filmed entirely on location, the series will feature an exciting cast of fresh, young local talent alongside established actors.
The series firmly uses Liverpool’s distinctive voice to delve into working class culture and offer up an uplifting, heart-warming and hilarious portrayal of teenagers today and how they view the world.
Lucy Beaumont currently causing havoc on series 16 of Taskmaster wrote on Twitter “I don’t work on the show anymore so didn’t write any of this series but overjoyed to hear there’s more native Hull actors in it, something I tried desperately to get in series 1. It’s an amazing cast and V. proud to have been a part of its conception!”
Hullraisers season 2 starts at 10pm on Thursday 9th November on Channel 4.
A holiday fairytale comedy from Richard Curtis
Some friendships are worth more than you could ever wish for.
This Christmas, from Richard Curtis, the Oscar®-nominated screenwriter of Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill, comes a holiday fairytale comedy about a genie, a man, and landing one last chance to fix the mess you’ve made of your life.
Oscar® nominee Melissa McCarthy stars as Flora, a genie trapped for more than 2,000 years inside an antique jewelry box because of one teeny-tiny little misunderstanding with a sorcerer back in 77 B.C.
After millennia of being summoned to grant wishes of gold doubloons and hot babes for greedy men, Flora is accidentally called to service by Bernard Bottle (Emmy nominee Paapa Kwakye Essiedu; I May Destroy You), whose life is unraveling around him.
US: STREAMING ON PEACOCK FROM NOVEMBER 22 / UK: Streaming on Sky from December 1st
‘White Lotus’ S3 and Prequel Series Moving to 2025
When asked by reporters on Thursday how the writers’ strike and actors’ strike had impacted scheduling plans for HBO and Max’s 2024, chairman/CEO Casey Bloys revealed the revised scheduling plans for both shows, programming slate.
“‘White Lotus’ Season 3 probably would have been in play for 2024, it’s 2025,” Bloys said during a press event in New York. “‘Welcome to Derry,’ we had had that scheduled for Halloween of 2024. That’s likely 2025.”
Bradley’s Comedy Heroes
Bradley Walsh will reflect on the work of his comedy heroes in a multi-part series for Channel 5 with the working title Bradley Walsh: Legends of Comedy.
Paramount is to consolidate its free UK digital platforms My5 and Pluto from 2024.
The streamer will deliver a super-sized digital service with new and archive Channel 5 programming as well as Pluto TV’s curated collection of FAST channels as well as other content. Pluto TV currently offers more than 20,000 hours of content in the UK.
Channel 4 has acquired the television rights to the hit single-camera comedy Animal Control from FOX Entertainment Global (FEG). It will be shown on E4.
Produced by FOX Entertainment Studios and starring and executive produced by Emmy Award nominee Joel McHale, the series follows a group of local Animal Control workers whose lives are complicated by the fact that animals are simple, but humans are not. McHale stars as Frank, an opinionated, eccentric Animal Control officer and ex-cop who, after a failed attempt at exposing corruption in his police department, found himself incarcerating animals and becoming all the more cynical and curmudgeonly.
Could he BE more missed
Matthew Perry known around the world for playing Chandler Bing in the hit TV sitcom Friends has died at the age of just 54. He also starred in films including Fools Rush In, Three to Tango and The Whole Nine Yards.
Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer released a joint statement Monday:
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew,” they said in their statement. “We were more than just castmates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss. In time we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
Matthew Perry Tribute
Max is honoring late “Friends” star Matthew Perry with a tribute card at the start of each season of the sitcom on the streaming platform. The card appears on screen for five seconds before the iconic “Friends” opening sequence.
All 10 seasons of “Friends” are currently available to stream on Max.
Creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane along with executive producer Kevin Bright shared a joint statement
“It still seems impossible. All we can say is that we feel blessed to have had him as part of our lives,” it read. “He was a brilliant talent. It’s a cliche to say that an actor makes a role their own, but in Matthew’s case, there are no truer words. From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us. We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment — not just to his work, but in life as well.”
On Friday 3rd November Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK will celebrate a remarkable decade of standing up to cancer with a star-studded night of fantastic TV.
From 7pm, hosts Davina McCall, Adam Hills, Joe Lycett and Munya Chawawa will kick off proceedings with SU2C: The Takeover. This 90-minute live show will be jam-packed with hilarious comedy talent and famous faces, including Rita Ora, Oti Mabuse, Cush Jumbo, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Charlotte Ritchie and many more, all standing together to celebrate the staggering breakthroughs and progress in cancer research that has been made possible by money raised through Stand Up To Cancer in the last ten years.
One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime*. Stand Up To Cancer is helping us all fight back. To donate whatever you can call 0300 123 4444* or text £40 £30 £20 or £10 text FORTY, THIRTY, TWENTY or TEN to 70404. For more information and to donate online visit Channel4.com/SU2C
Comedian and writer Jack Carroll On The Street
“Delighted and honoured to announce I’ll be joining the British cultural institution that is Coronation Street as Bobby, Carla’s nephew. Hopefully he brings some laughter in the vein of some of the shows classic comedy characters” Jack announced on X
Comedians Announced For New Series On Dave
Some of the comedy pairings taking on World’s Most Dangerous Roads in series two include Jamali Maddix and Larry Dean who head to the dramatic landscapes of Bhutan, Rhod Gilbert and Angela Barnes take on the Italian Alps, and Mike Wozniak and Ola Labib drive into the Namibian wilderness. Slovenia will see David Harewood and Fraser James tackle its dangerous roads whilst Olga Koch and Thanyia Moore venture into the diverse terrain of Bulgaira. Jeff Stelling and Chris Kamara set out on a thrillingly scenic journey to Sri Lanka and Desiree Burch and Jessica Fostekew travel on Colorado’s notoriously dangerous ground. Finally, Seann Walsh and Joe Swash explore Guatemala’s not so safe turf.
World’s Most Dangerous Roads will air on Dave later this year. Catch up on the first series on UKTV Play now.
Mandy Returning For More Disastrous Jobs
Filming on the third series of Diane Morgan’s Mandy, from BBC Studios Comedy Productions, is underway. Once again Diane writes, directs, and stars in the series, where she will be joined by faces old and new, famous and not famous, tall and short.
Diane Morgan says: “All the quotes used in TV Press releases like this are written by Chat GPT now. This one certainly is. When you’re writing and directing and performing in something you can’t waste time thinking of some pointless quote just to show off. No one reads beyond the first words anyway; because they just repetitively say how thrilled and excited everyone is. No one’s reading this now, are they? Only a fool would do that. Come on, there must be a book you could be reading now instead of this nonsense.”
The nation’s hero of the zero-hours economy Mandy returns for another series of micro-aggressive adventures, in which she battles her own personal cost-of-living crisis in a number of short-lived, ill-thought-through and poorly-paid jobs.
Mandy is joined as ever by her friend, mentor and nail clinician Lola, played by Michelle Greenidge (Code 404), as she navigates her way through the turbulence of her quest for the ultimate aspirational lifestyle – one where she breeds prize-winning Doberman pinchers and has a magic eye picture on every wall.
New cast joining for series three includes Paul Ready (Motherland), Beverley Callard (Coronation Street), Nathan Foad (Our Flag Means Death) and Robbie Gee (Black Ops).
Returning cast for series three includes: Tom Basden (Here We Go), Mark Silcox (Man Like Mobeen), Roger Sloman (Nuts in May), Alistair Green (The Great), Michael Spicer (The Room Next Door), Jackie Clune (Motherland) and Yuriko Kotani (Pls Like).
Channel 4 reveals first look at the killer cast joining Ben Wheatley’s Generation Z dark comedy
Currently in production and filming in Wales, the 6-part series produced by The Forge (Help, National Treasure, Kiri) is a coming-of-age parable for our very strange times – cut with a heavy dose of outlandish gore
Prime Video Latest Stand-Up Comedy Special
Comedian, Trevor Wallace, is set to release his first Amazon Original stand-up special, Trevor Wallace: Pterodactyl. You may know Wallace from the relatable characters he’s unleashed across the internet, which have amassed billions of views. In his first stand-up special, he introduces you to the real-life characters he’s come face-to-face with
The special will premiere on Prime Video on November 14, 2023.
New Holiday Movie EXmas
for Amazon Freevee
Amazon Freevee has announced that EXmas, an Original romantic comedy starring Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) and Robbie Amell (Upload), will premiere exclusively on Freevee in the U.S., UK, Germany, and Austria on November 17.
Written and created by Camilla Whitehill, Big Mood is a vivacious and rebellious portrayal of female friendship when infiltrated by the complexities of a serious mental illness. The six-part series starring Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, Derry Girls) and Lydia West (It’s A Sin, Inside Man) will be available to watch and stream on Channel 4 in 2024.
Comedian, Lorna Rose Treen, to play Cherie Blair, wife of ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair, in Season 6 of The Crown
British comedian, London Hughes, who moved to the States to find the recognition she deserved, to appear on The Graham Norton Show, Friday 13th
Kaley Returns
Based on a True Story, the Peacock dark comedic thriller series starring Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina, has been renewed for a second season.
Lou Sanders is hopefully not skating on thin ice
Comedian and writer Lou Sanders is the eighth celebrity confirmed to be taking part in the new series of Dancing on Ice.
Revealing the news exclusively to Nihal Arthanayake on Radio Five Live today, Lou said: “I’m nervous about cracking my head open, or just bashing the old head. I can’t afford to lose any more brain cells. I’m also worried about my partner picking me up, he’s going to have to be very strong and very brave.”
Ghost Of Christmas Yet To Come
Having confirmed earlier this year that the much-loved comedy Ghosts would be coming to an end after the upcoming fifth and final series, the team behind the show have today announced that there will in fact be a Christmas special.
The Ghosts team posted on social media: “The final series of Ghosts starts on Friday… but there might be one last present under the Christmas tree this year #BBCGhosts”
Ghosts’ stars, writers and creators Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond return with six new episodes of the smash-hit comedy, along with Lolly Adefope, Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe,.
As we begin the series, while Alison and Mike search for new ways to keep Button House going after the gatehouse fire, they receive some unexpected news that will bring about major changes for them and the Ghosts. Elsewhere, the Ghosts investigate the mysterious details of Kitty’s death, Pat is inspired to create some new entertainment for the gang when the Ghosts lose their appetite for Food Club, and after Robin makes an outlandish prediction the Ghosts contemplate their legacies.
Premieres BBC One at 8:30pm on Friday 6th October 2023.
Here We Go Again
Comedy News: At last BBC Studios Comedy Productions’ Here We Go has commenced filming on a second series. It’s been a long time coming. Series 1 Review
Created by and starring Tom Basden (After Life), the highly anticipated second series is coming soon to BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The outstanding cast reprising their roles includes Jim Howick (Ghosts), Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd) and Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey) alongside Freya Parks, Jude Collie, Mica Ricketts and Tori Allen-Martin (London Kills).
Early Christmas Viewing
The family holiday comedy Dashing Through the Snow, starring Lil Rel Howery, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, and Teyonah Parris, will debut November 17, 2023, exclusively on Disney+.
Dashing Through the Snow is a hilarious and touching story about a social worker for the Atlanta police department and the Christmas Eve journey with his estranged daughter that helps him to remember the joy and magic of the yuletide season.
Watch on YouTube
Your Choice Is The Only One That Matters
The only awards that really matter are those voted for by you, the viewers. No politics, no butt kissing and no industry favouritism. Just your opinion. The only one that matters.
So make sure that, when you have the chance, you have your say, like voting in the TV Times Awards Awards: one of the few that ask you the viewer. Sure, there’s pre-selected nominees but there’s bound to be someone you think deserves to win. It means a lot to the nominees.
So click the image to assign your votes
They’re Unforgivable
UKTV Original series MelGiedroyc:Unforgivable (8×60′), hosted by Mel Giedroyc and devious deputy Lou Sanders, will return for a fourth series on Dave and free streaming service UKTV Play in 2024. Produced by Expectation, the format welcomes a new line up of famous faces ready to tell their terrible truths.
For the first time ever, Lou Sanders will be traversing the nation to seek confessions and the most jaw-dropping revelations. Additionally, celebrity guests will be spilling more beans than ever with brand-new games in the studio leading to even more scandalous stories.
Jean Boht, best remembered for playing Nellie Boswell in Carla Lane’s sitcom Bread, died just six weeks after her husband of 53 years, composer Carl Davis, passed away. She was 91.
In 1988 some 21 million viewers tuned in to watch the wedding episode – making it the second most popular show of that year, behind EastEnders.
As well as film and stage performances Boht also appeared in sitcoms I Woke Up One Morning and Brighton Belles.
Alan Carr’s Picture Slam
Comedy News: Picture Slam is described as fun and fast-paced quiz where every question is a picture and every picture is worth cash. They could be anything from famous faces and places to brands and logos, films and TV shows, toys and animals or things you buy in the supermarket. In this quiz, the teams need to know something about everything to get that all important Picture Slam!
Comedy News 12.09.2023
Juice "trippy joyride" comedy
Juice is a surreal comedy that follows Jamma (Mawaan Rizwan) on his quest for attention as he navigates chaotic family dynamics and literally stumbles through love. Mum, Farida (Shahnaz Rizwan), always makes everything about her, Dad, Saif (Jeff Mirza), ignores him and brother, Isaac (Nabhaan Rizwan), steals the limelight at work – the one place Jamma feels like he’s doing well. And when he finally does get the validation from boyfriend Guy (Russell Tovey), he can’t handle it. When Jamma’s emotions peak the world physically transforms around him.
The show is written and created by Mawaan Rizwan.
Sugar Daddy Comes to London's Soho
Comedy News: US comedian Sam Morrison brings his critically acclaimed stand up show ‘Sugar Daddy’ for five dates at London’s Soho Theatre following a sell out run there earlier this year. The dates are Tuesday 24th – Saturday 28th October and follows on from his month-long run at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
This Spring he performed an extended off-Broadway run at the Soho Playhouse with the show (hailed as “the best new show in New York right now” by the Daily Beast). This year he also debuted an outstanding set on ‘Late Night With Seth Meyers’.
The show is a celebration of his partner, who sadly lost his life due to Covid. Sam makes his own tragedy funny, despite his pain, giving hope to those in the same situation that light can be made from darkness…
In 2021, Sam began to write about his grief as a coping mechanism – to share Jonathan with others and to make fun of a society that didn’t know how to deal with him as a young widow. A few stories anchor the show and help Sam find meaning and connect to Jonathan in dark, silly, and practical ways.
Last year Sam was mugged. The mugger said, “Give me your phone, I have a gun.” But Sam said, “No. My boyfriend passed away and I have his photos on my phone.” He didn’t care… But Sam held his ground and said no enough times that the assailant gave in, and Sam ran off! …weeks later the wallet was found on the ground and returned to Sam by a Jehovah’s Witness.
If Sam didn’t have enough to deal with, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Despite the trauma of the diagnosis, it snapped him out of my grief by forcing him to take care of himself. Ever since the doctor said the diagnosis was potentially triggered by the grief from losing Jonathan, Sam began to think of Jonathan as the glucose monitor on my arm (hence the name, Sugar Daddy).
These storylines and a few others interweave throughout the nonlinear hour of the exploration of grief and love as Sam shares his experiences in grief groups, quarantining, grief fog, shame, sex drive, spiritual journey, and evolution of grief comedy, all colliding at the end in a frenzied sardonic sermon where he preaches to spread the Jehovah’s Witness gospel, and join in prayer – a call and response Jonathan and Sam developed in quarantine.
Sam Morrison is originally from Sarasota, Florida but currently lives in Greenpoint where he is a staple of the Brooklyn comedy scene and plays ultimate frisbee with his least athletic friends. He is anxious gay diabetic Jew who finds humour in the sad, awkward, and shameful.
YES! Funny Woman Recommissioned for a Second Series
Comedy News: In series one, Barbara from Blackpool realised her dream and became TV comedy star, Sophie Straw, the nation’s favourite. In series two, Sophie finds out that ‘having a voice’ doesn’t mean it will be heard and that fame is a fickle friend. Fed up with being the comic muse in old school comedy shows, Sophie tries her hand at arthouse cinema hoping it will be more progressive – it isn’t! Undeterred, Sophie decides to create her own comedy show where she can tell authentic stories in all their messy and hilarious glory. She’s found her voice, and no one can stop her using it! She learns that the power is in the word. Review Series 1 Here
Good God!
The Lewis family are returning to Channel 4 for a second series in Everyone Else Burns (review of series 1 here), which will bring the god-fearing Mancunians back for an inferno of family strife, marital chaos and righteous revolution but few laughs.
Filming will take place next year and transmission details will follow in due course.
NEW CHANNEL 4 SERIES
‘DISABILITY BENEFITS’
Comedy News: Written by Rosie Jones and Peter Fellows, Channel 4 has commissioned Disability Benefits from Merman Television and 2LE Media, which first came to life as the award-winning Channel 4 Comedy Blap of the same name.
Battle in the Box Gameshow for UKTV Dave
Hosted by Jimmy Carr, Battle in the Box will see pairs of comics and some of the nation’s favourite celebrities battle it out for pride, prizes and most importantly floorspace, in this comedy entertainment and reality hybrid. The eight-episode series will comprise of four tense double bills which will see eight pairs spend 24 hours in the box.
More Black Ops for BBC
Comedy News: Comedy thriller Black Ops has been recommissioned for a second six-part series on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, Jon Petrie, Director of BBC Comedy, announced today at the Edinburgh TV Festival.
The show, produced by BBC Studios Comedy Productions and Mondo Deluxe and created by BAFTA- winning actor and writer Gbemisola Ikumelo (Famalam, Brain in Gear), BAFTA-winning actor and producer Akemnji Ndifornyen (Famalam, The Queen’s Gambit) and writing duo Joe Tucker and Lloyd Woolf (Click and Collect, Witless), debuted in May this year winning over viewers and critics alike.
In the first series, which drew an audience of 2.3M for the first episode and 1.6M across the full series (BARB 28 Day 4 Screen), Dom and Kay joined the Met Police as Police Community Support Officers in the hope of cleaning up their community, but found themselves unwittingly thrust into the murky world of deep cover infiltration and a powerful criminal enterprise.
In series two, Gbemisola Ikumelo will be reprising her role as Dom and Hammed Animashaun (The Wheel of Time) will be back as Kay, with the duo set to be thrust into a new adventure. Akemnji Ndifornyen also reprises his role as gang boss Tevin.
Extraordinary 2024 on Disney+
Comedy news: Disney+ has announced new casting for the supercharger season two of the award-winning comedy series, “Extraordinary” (see review Season 1), which will be coming exclusively to Disney+ in early 2024.
“Extraordinary” is led by a cast of rising talent including Máiréad Tyers (Jen), Sofia Oxenham (Carrie), Bilal Hasna (Kash), and Luke Rollason (Jizzlord). Additional cast members include Siobhán McSweeney (Jen’s mum, Mary) and Robbie Gee (Jen’s stepdad, Ian), who will all be returning for Season 2.
Joining the cast above are Julian Barratt who will play the role of “George”, Jen’s power coach at the Discovery clinic, Rosa Robson who plays Nora, an unexpected person from Jizzlord’s past, Kwaku Mills who will play “Clark”, Carrie’s new work colleague and Derek Jacobi who will voice a special cameo role.
Season two picks up where season one spectacularly left off. Season one sees Jen, a painfully self-aware 25-year-old woman, still waiting to get hers. She’d take anything at this point. Adrift in a big, confusing world and armed with nothing but a bit of hope, a lot of desperation and her flatmates, Jen begins her journey to find her maybe-superpower. But in doing so, she might discover the joy of being just kind of ok.
Apple unveils “Still Up” trailer
The almost romantic comedy stars Antonia Thomas and Craig Roberts
Apple TV+ today debuted the trailer for “Still Up,” the upcoming comedy series co-created and written by Steve Burge and Natalie Walter. The new eight-episode comedy will make its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first three episodes on Friday, September 22, followed by new episodes every Friday through October 27.
“Still Up” is an almost romantic comedy set in the after-hours world of insomniacs Danny (Roberts) and Lisa (Thomas) who have no secrets except their feelings for each other.
Also starring in the ensemble cast are Blake Harrison, Lois Chimimba, Luke Fetherston and Rich Fulcher.
More Late Nights for Joe Lycett
Joe Lycett and Channel 4 will once again be returning to the banks of Birmingham’s canals for more mayhem in a new series of Late Night Lycett, due to air in 2024.
Broadcast live, with fun and inclusivity at heart, Late Night Lycett celebrates the city and its diversity, making stars of the locals.
Comedy news: Actors Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston are celebrating four decades on screen together in an all-new More4 series visiting landmark places from their lives and the special destinations the pair have always wanted to see together.
The series will see the friends sharing with viewers and each other some of the places across Britain that hold cherished memories, as well as spots they’ve yearned to see together. Locations will include Shrewsbury Prison, where Ricky was jailed in the 1970s for unjust charges that Sue, coincidentally, took to the streets to campaign against, and reveals how they both ended up on Brookside Close, where the pair first acted alongside each other in the iconic Channel 4 soap opera.
As well as playing Bobby and Sheila Grant in Brookside, Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston went on to become the equally iconic Jim and Barbara Royle in The Royle Family and have recently been sharing a sofa on Celebrity Gogglebox. As a beloved on-screen duo, and stars of stage and screen in their own right, the two acting stalwarts will share the meaningful locations around the country that have shaped their lives. Along the way, Ricky and Sue will meet with some well-known friends who each have a link to the places and people they’ll discover.
Frasier is back in the building
Paramount+ has released first-look images from its revival of the Kelsey Grammer sitcom Frasier along with a premiere date: Thursday, Oct. 12.
The new series “follows Frasier Crane in the next chapter of his life as he returns to Boston with new challenges to face, new relationships to forge and an old dream or two to finally fulfill.”
Starring alongside Grammar are Jack Cutmore-Scott as Frasier’s son Freddy; Nicholas Lyndhurst as Frasier’s old college buddy turned university professor Alan; Toks Olagundoye as Olivia, Alan’s colleague and head of the university’s psychology department; Jess Salgueiro as Freddy’s roommate Eve; and Anders Keith as Frasier’s nephew David.
New Lisa McGee Comedy
TV Comedy News: Channel 4 has commissioned a brand-new comedy thriller, How To Get To Heaven From Belfast, from the writer and creator of the critically-acclaimed and multi-award-winning Derry Girls.
How To Get To Heaven From Belfast promises to take us on an enthralling and hilarious journey, exploring the themes of friendship, memory and what happens when life doesn’t turn out quite how we expected.
Lisa McGee said: “I feel so incredibly lucky to be making another show for the phenomenal Channel 4 and to be doing it with Hat Trick Productions again and the creative team behind Derry Girls, the mighty Liz Lewin and Caroline Leddy, is just a dream. I’ve wanted to make a comedy thriller set in Northern Ireland for SUCH a long time. I cannot wait to share these flawed funny women with everyone.”
At Last! Dinosaur returns
Comedy News: Filming has commenced and the casting has been revealed on new comedy “Dinosaur”, the latest series from Two Brothers Pictures, the team behind “Fleabag”, “Back To Life” and the global hit thriller “The Tourist”.
BBC Comedy and BBC Scotland have picked up the Glasgow set six part series for BBC Three and the BBC Scotland Channel.
Created by Matilda Curtis and Ashley Storrie, “Dinosaur” follows Nina (Ashley Storrie), an autistic woman in her 30s, who adores her life living with her sister and best friend Evie. However, when Evie rushes into an engagement after only six weeks and makes Nina her maid of honour, Nina is floored. Forced to reconcile with her sister’s impulsive decision, Nina grapples with what this new challenge means, leading to a surprising journey of self-discovery.
Ashley Storrie stars alongside Kat Ronney (“The Royal Mob”) as Evie. The two are joined by David Carlyle (“It’s A Sin”) as Bo, Lorn Macdonald (“BEATS”, “The Lazarus Project”, “Bridgerton”) as Lee and Danny Ashok (“Roadkill”, “Capital”) as Ranesh.
Ashley Storrie says: “I’m so excited that we’ve started filming, I’m jazzed to showcase Glasgow in all its magical beauty to the world!”
Also joining the cast in supporting roles are Greg Hemphill (“Still Game”) as Ade, Sabrina Sandhu (“Dodger”, “The Syndicate”) as Amber, Ben Rufus Green (“The Cockfields”) as Shane, Jim Kitson (“Land of Women”) as Declan, Sally Howitt (“River City”) as Diane, Kate Dickie (“Game of Thrones”, “Inside Man”) as Cecily and Sanjeev Kohli (“Still Game”) as Sachin.
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