Funny Fortnight

8 August 2012

Them From That Thing

 

To celebrate a future of even more top notch comedy and trumpet a long commitment to championing and breaking new comedy, August will see comedy take over C4. Pack the gold medals away as giggles rein with 45 hours of comedy programming.

Channel 4's Funny Fortnight will be a two week long extravaganza of brand new shows, best episodes ever as chosen by the writers, excellent stand-up, Comedy Labs (C4's breeding ground for new talent) and archive treats featuring many a familiar face.

When publicising any of the shows please include the credit "Part of C4's Funny Fortnight".

 

 

NEW STAND-UP: MICKY FLANAGAN LIVE: THE OUT OUT TOUR

Critically-acclaimed comedian Micky Flanagan presents the highly anticipated debut stand-up of his nationwide sell-out tour.

An East End boy done good, Micky tells a rollicking tale of a working class upbringing where alphabetti spaghetti is a luxury to the hilarity of the middle classes he now finds himself among - who dip bread in oil!

Includes fantastic and infamous routines such as ‘out, out', ‘chicken children', 'going to America', ‘the art of pulling' and ‘ketchup'. This cheeky cockney strikes a chord with his captivating, plain-talking wit.

Director / Producer: Brian Klein; Exec Producer: Karla Berry & Christian Knowles

 

BRAND NEW CHANNEL 4 COMEDY PRESENTS: THEM FROM THAT THING

Them From That Thing is a brand new two-part sketch show from Zeppotron that combines a supergroup cast of Channel 4 comedy stars along with a host of famous cameos from the world of drama.

Set in the modern world where serious characters say and do very stupid things, Them From That Thing combines the look and feel of great British drama with a silly and slightly unhinged comic sensibility.

A core cast comprising the UK's finest comedy actors (Blake Harrison, Kayvan Novak, Sally Phillips and Morgana Robinson) feature alongside cameo appearances from Simon Callow, Bill Patterson, Sean Pertwee, Jane Asher, Denis Lawson, Ewen Bremner, Kevin Eldon, Sean Gilder, Neil Maskell, Tom Bennett and Dan Renton Skinner.

Them From That Thing attempts to tackle the big issues of modern life; the loss of identity in the workplace, the cost of getting a banana delivered from a supermarket delivery service and whether or not anyone else can see the talking Blancmange man. There really is something for everyone.

Written by Neil Webster, Ben Caudell, Peter Holmes, Charlie Brooker, Chris Grady, Robert Florence and Simon Craig, Them From That Thing is produced by Neil Webster and directed by Ben Palmer.

 

NEW STAND-UP: FRANKIE BOYLE LIVE: IF I COULD REACH OUT THROUGH YOUR TV AND STRANGLE YOU I WOULD

Famous for his straight-talking, no-holds barred stand-up, critically-acclaimed comedian Frankie Boyle brings us his highly anticipated show to TV. Recorded at London's Hammersmith Apollo, during his sell-out 2010 tour, Frankie comes armed with an impressive arsenal of punchlines and putdowns.

Producer & Director is Brian Klein; On the Box Productions

 

BEST EPISODE: VIC REEVES' BIG NIGHT OUT

Vic Reeves Big Night Out ran on Channel 4 for two series in the early nineties, following a cult stage show. It marked the beginnings of the collaboration between Vic & Bob that started the legendary double act. In this episode, Vic Reeves and his partner Bob Mortimer bring further chaos to Tuesday nights with more visits to Novelty Island and another chance to find out what the Man with the Stick has to reveal...

 

 

COMEDY LAB: MODERN TOSS

Comedy Labs have been Channel 4's unique comedy showcase that has unearthed the stars of the future, including Peter Kay, Jimmy Carr, Dom Joly and Russell Brand. Modern Toss , the hit cult comic featuring inappropriate sign writer Mr Tourette, comes to life in this foul-mouthed hybrid of live-action and animation. Creators John Link and Mick Bunnage bring their maladjusted cartoon characters to life, while the surreal live action sequences are directed by Joe " Adam & Joe " Cornish. Featuring more pointlessly hostile behaviour than you could poke an animated stick at, Modern Toss is a brilliantly surreal world of weirdness.

Writer/ Dirs: Jon Link, Mick Bunnage; Prod: Rebecca Ferrand; Exec Prods: Alan Marke, Jim Reid; Prod Co: Channel X

 

ARCHIVE TREAT: CHELMSFORD 1,2,3

Funny Fortnight heads back, way back in time to a comedy series set in the British town of Chelmsford in the year AD 123, concerning the power struggle between Roman governor Aulus Paulinus (Jimmy Mulville) and the British chieftain, Badvoc (Rory McGrath). Britain is a miserable place, cold and wet - just the place to exile Aulus for accidentally insulting the Emperor's horse, but also give him something useful to do. Aulus, was a rather delicate Roman, who was usually outwitted by the scheming Badvoc, who hadn't had a haircut for twenty-five years. Showing is the final episode in the series.

Created & written by Rory McGrath & Jimmy Mulville

Production Company: Hat Trick Productions

 

 

NEW STAND-UP: LEE EVANS LIVE: ROADRUNNER

Wired and Wonderful was huge... XL was big... Big was even bigger... now the legendary Lee Evans brings us his most ambitious tour to date. Roadrunner was Lee's amazing new show which toured over 60 nights in the biggest arenas in the country. Lee played to more fans than ever on this record- breaking tour of the UK and Ireland in 2011 with the show filmed during his five nights at the 02.

Written by Lee Evans & Stuart Silver; Director/producer Tim Searle; Exec Prod Addison Cresswell, Joe Norris, Helen Parker, Andrew Beint

 

BRAND NEW I'M SPAZTICUS

Offering a fresh new take on the hidden camera prank show format, Channel 4's Funny Fortnight welcomes brand new series, I'm Spazticus. Featuring a cast of disabled talent, the 4x30mins series sees individuals with varying disabilities pranking members of the public in a cheeky and irreverent way. A pilot of the series broadcast as part of Channel 4's Comedy Lab won a Superfest International Disability Award.

The show mixes hidden camera and mockumentary style shooting to create a series of hilarious situations. Alongside a number of recurring characters, there will also be host of one-offs throughout the series. We see the results of a foul mouthed talking guide dog who people happily engage in conversation with, and discover how the public fair when they volunteer to take part in Police line-ups and have to pretend they have the same disability as the other ‘unusual' suspects, and the reaction of finding a wheelchair parachutist stuck in a tree....

The show also sees a mock disability awareness stand being set-up in a shopping centre, asking members of the public to place (by physically moving them) different disabled people in the order of the disability they would least like to have. So, who goes to the end of the queue: the blind man, dwarf, amputee or person with cerebral palsy?

Created and starring some of the best disabled talent, the show features Tim Baggaley, Jamie Beddard, Tanyalee Davis, Tim Gebbels, Toby Hewson, Maxwell Laird, Peter Mitchell, Simon Stevens and many more. It's different, cheeky, new and did we mention hilarious?!

Directors: Jamie O'Leary & Paul Hupfield ; Producer: Jemma Gander; Executive Producer: Jamie O'Leary

 

 

BRAND NEW FONEJACKER SHORT

A one off classic Fonejacker prank call for Channel 4's Funny Fortnight, starring Kayvan Novak.  The Fonejacker takes on the guise of nosy neighbour Mrs Millins and bemuses and baffles unsuspecting members of the public by phoning him to complain she's just seen a man walking a cat in the area.

Directed by Ed Tracy ; Executive Producer Helen Williams; Production Company: Hat Trick Comedy

 

 

ARCHIVE TREAT: HARRY HILL

Before TV Burp, Harry Hill presented three series of a marvellous half hour of sketches and stand-up for Channel 4. Each week featured a special guest and a '90s hit, while Burt Kwouk demonstrated a series of ingenious methods to capture a hen, and chief scientist Finsbury Park came up with another amazing invention.

 

ARCHIVE TREAT: THE LAW OF THE PLAYGROUND

The Law of the Playground was a seven-part series about the stuff we all used to get up to at school, from the warped games, chants and nicknames to the traditions and taunts that were a regular part of school life. Inspired by Jonathan Blyth's The Law of the Playground website and book - www.playgroundlaw.com - the show featured comedians and TV personalities reminiscing about their schooldays. Like the book, it was light-hearted, witty and warm, but it wasn't a rose-coloured wander down memory lane, and recognised that while generally innocent, kids can be cruel, mindless, unwittingly rude and just plain wrong. Featuring Vic Reeves, Alan Carr, David Mitchell, Jayne Middlemiss, Mark Dolan, Patrick McGuiness, Lee Mack, Josie D'Arby, Rhys Thomas and Olivia Lee look back at scams for cheating, bunking off and how the documentary John's Not Mad changed life in the playground for ever.

Exec Prod: Ben Caudell; Prod: Greg Bower; Prod Co: Zeppotron 

 

ARCHIVE TREAT: THE 11 O'CLOCK SHOW

A critically-acclaimed series that launched many of the UK's best known comedians, including Ricky Gervais and Sacha Baron-Cohen, The 11 0'Clock Show's second series returned to C4 in 1999 running three times a week and providing up-to-the-minute comedy on breaking news stories and the big issues of the day - created, written, performed and edited on the day of transmission.

The 11 O'clock Show was brave and experimental - or silly, depending on your point of view. It was satire with a twist, broad comedy with cunning and arch wit with mucking about. Mostly, though, it provided up-to-the-minute comedy on breaking news stories, sharply packaged and presented by

Comedian and frontman Iain Lee, who more succinctly describes it as, "satire with some nob gags thrown in."

This episode is a compilation show from March 1999 including many of the items and characters which made the show infamous and notorious in C4 comedy history.

Featuring Iain Lee, Al1 G, Tommy Vance, Mackenzie Crook, Daisy Donovan and Rich Hall. <Writers : Neil Webster, Charlie Skelton, Peter Holmes, Ben Caudell; Charlie Brooker Prod: Dominic English; Exec Prod: Peter Fincham; Prod Co: Talkback>

 

BRAND NEW VIC & BOB'S LUCKY SEXY WINNERS

Comedy legends Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer return to Channel 4 with brand new show Vic & Bob's Lucky Sexy Winners.

Ripping up the rule book for panel and quiz show formats, this new show will be packed jam full of comedy treats. Comedy legend Eddie Izzard will be one of the special celebrity guests putting himself up for Vic and Bob's tough line of quiz questioning and alongside two other special guests, he will do battle for some exclusive prizes.  

Thrown into an all-singing, all-dancing set will be a bucket load of original sketches, including Bob playing Embarrassing Bodies Dr. Christian Jessen and Vic as Miranda Hart. We'll also see new characters, a very special appearance from JLS and Simon Cowell as we've never seen him before. With Vic & Bob firmly at the helm of this new comedy ship, we can of course look forward to several unexpected anarchic twists along the journey.

Bob says, "We can't wait to get back into the studio with some Lucky Sexy Winners for Channel 4" and Vic added, "yes it's all rather exciting really isn't it?"

Producer: Alex Moody, Executive Producer: Lisa Clark, Director: Geri Dowd for Pett Productions

 

 

STAND-UP: STEVE COOGAN: LIVE ‘N LEWD

As part of Channel 4's Funny Fortnight season, Steve Coogan introduces his outrageous 1994 stand up show.

Steve Coogan's stand up performance featuring a cavalcade of comedy characters from his outrageous live 1994 show, including appearances from Paul Calf and his sister Pauline, Duncan Thickett, Ernest Moss, and John Thomson as reformed stand-up comedian Bernard  Righton

Starring: Steve Coogan, John Thomson; Writers: Steve Coogan, Henry Normal, Patrick Marber, John Thomson; Director: Dominic Brigstocke; Production Company: Positive.

 

ARCHIVE TREAT: JAM

After On the Hour, after The Day Today, after Brass Eye, there came jam ... A jilted man wreaks revenge on his ex-girlfriend by firing himself into her face through a woodshredder... a disease called "the gush" makes porn stars ejaculate to death... a woman bribes a plumber to fix her dead baby... jam features Amelia Bullmore, David Cann, Julia Davis, Kevin Eldon and Mark Heap. They were kept for three months in a basement with only milk and weapons. All facial expressions are real. Chris Morris: "It's a fucked-up lullaby - halfway through it you'll fall asleep with a grin in your stomach and the most disgusting look on your face."

Dir/ Prod: Chris Morris; Prod Co: Talkback

 

ARCHIVE TREAT: GARTH MARENGHI'S DARKPLACE

From the dark depths of the Channel4 comedy  cult archive, the past is stirring in the halls of Darkplace, and for Dr. Rick Dagless MD, that means Trouble. With a capital T (the rest of the letters lowercase). Something long dead has been reborn on 'B' Wing. Is it a macabre sign, a terrible warning, or a sacred gift from the gods? What's certain is that it is a giant eye. A journey of discovery lies ahead for both of them... Garth Marenghi, the titan of terror, introduces this lyrical episode of his hospital horror drama. Also starring Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd), Matt Berry (Toast of London) and Alice Lowe (Film4's forthcoming Sightseers).  

Dir: Richard Ayoade; Prod: Charlie Hanson; Prod Co: Avalon TV

 

BRAND NEW VIC & BOB'S POPADOODLEDANDY

Popadoodledandy is the near-legendary ‘lost' pop show from Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer.

In the traditional style of all the very best TV pop shows, it features performances from groups, its own dance troop (Strawberry's Tarts), interviews, video reviews, and pop star celebrity guest spots! But everything, of course, is sprinkled with the glorious, surreal Vic and Bob magic.

Made in late 1992, Popadoodledandy was due to follow Big Night Out on C4, but then Vic and Bob transferred to BBC2, where they set off to make The Smell of Reeves & Mortimer.

Popadoodledandy then settled quietly into the archives, where it became their secret legendary show, spoken of, but never seen...

Until now.

Pop fact: the title Popadoodledandy was coined by Paul Whitehouse, who had worked closely with Vic and Bob on Big Night Out.

Producer: Graham K. Smith, Director: David G Hillier for TV21

 

BRAND NEW THE FUNCTION ROOM

A function room, which is set in a room above a pub, is being used for a community ‘Meet The Police' event where residents are invited to quiz local police officers about crime in the area. While the police plan simply to postcode valuables, the locals are only interested in one thing: who is the infamous Shit Egg Killer? And will they put that name in the papers? Especially when he's not actually killed anyone...

As part of Channel 4's Funny Fortnight, The Function Room is a studio sitcom with an all-star cast which includes: Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners), James Fleet (The Vicar Of Dibley) , Reece Shearsmith (The League Of Gentlemen), Paul Ritter (Friday Night Dinner), Kevin Eldon (Brasseye), Jessica Knappett (The Inbetweeners Movie), Beverley Rudd (Trollied), Simon Day (The Fast Show), Colin Hoult (Russell Howerd's Good News), Stephen Lord (EastEnders, Shameless), Marek Larwood (We Are Klang), Phil Nice (My Family), Josephine Butler (Sorted) and Daniel Rigby (winner Bafta best actor for Eric Ernie)

Zeppotron's Ben Caudell says; ""The Funny Fortnight is a wonderful opportunity to bring this genuinely all-star comedy to the screen. It mixes the broad appeal of a big-name studio comedy with a subversive sensibilty that you'll only find on Channel 4."

The Executive Producers are Peter Holmes and Ben Caudell for Zeppotron. Producer is Sue Howells. Director is Barbara Wiltshire.

 

CHARACTER BIOGS:

JIM COSTELLO: (played by Paul Ritter)
The organiser of tonight's Meet The Police event, Jim is a bit out of his depth when it comes to actually staying in charge of a feisty group of local residents.

INSPECTOR TONY MARKS (played by Kevin Eldon)
Unflappable Inspector Marks is not fan of 'police speak' and wants to present a human, everyman face of the force. He is a little bit...weird though.

PC KELLY MINK (played by Jessica Knappett)
The district's new Beat Copper, Kelly is eager to make an impression, but distinctly by the book. She never uses one word when ten would do.

STEVE AND GILLIAN LAWSON (played by Blake Harrison and Beverley Rudd)
A young local couple who are as interested in having a laugh as they are in discussing local issues. If there'd been a decent film on the telly, they'd probably have stayed at home.

YANNICK MONTAGU (played by Daniel Rigby)
Yannick is twitchy, self-important and nerdy, a self-styled psychological profiler who reckons he has a handle on the identity of the current scourge of the neighbourhood, The Shit Egg Killer.

ARTHUR MARVIN (played by James Fleet)
A semi-retired (though he wouldn't acknowledge it) actor, Arthur is no fan of modern life and longs for a time before local youths ran riot on the suburban streets.

STUART AND MARINA (played by Colin Hoult and Josephine Butler)
Local well-to-do couple who effortlessly rub all the other locals up the wrong way. Loud and braying, they wrongly assume everyone is terribly interested in everything they have to say.

RHODESY & THE PRIEST (played by Simon Day and Phil Nice)
The regulars downstairs in the pub, Rhodesy is an arch pub bullshitter, The Priest (so named because of the white bandage permanently at his throat) is his long-suffering foil.

SANDY (played by Marek Yarwood)
The downtrodden barman, Sandy is man of simple pleasures and little complexity.

PEASEY (played by Stephen Lord)
A late replacement for the scheduled speaker on home security, reformed criminal Peasey is not exactly what the local residents were expecting. And they are not exactly his typical audience.

 

BEST EPISODE: SPACED

The cult sit-comedy that made flat sharing and geekdom cool - starring future Scotty, Simon Pegg, Twenty Twelve's Jessica Hynes/Stevenson, and directed by Shaun of the Dead helmer Edgar Wright.

A night on the town for Tim (Simon Pegg) and Daisy (Jessica Stevenson) turns into a fight for survival as the dynamic duo come face to face with an old enemy not to mention a few new ones.

Writers: Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson; Prod: Nira Park; Dir: Edgar Wright

 

BRAND NEW WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HARRY HILL?

In 1999 Channel 4's Harry Hill Show, loved by thousands, was cancelled amid public outcry and rancour. Star and writer of the show Harry Hill has not spoken to the Badgers, his Big Brother Alan, Son Alan, Burt Kwouk or any of the original cast since.

As C4 celebrates its thirtieth birthday the Harry Hill gang look back at the series, work out where it all went wrong and see if they can put their differences behind them and reunite for one last Reunion Special.

A specially commissioned documentary which investigates the rise and fall of The Harry Hill Show, which originally ran for three series on Channel 4 (1997,98,99).

We talk to the surviving members of the cast and the reclusive floppy collared genius who created it.

We learn of Harry Hill's addiction to oily fish and how he used to beat the cast with a stick to get them to do things (a bit like the Orangutan on Every Which Way But Loose). We uncover details of Brother Alan's secret affair with Tasmin Archer Badger and Burt Kwouk's dislike of Harry's singing voice.

The show features frank and sometimes shocking exclusive interviews with Harry Hill (TV Burp), Al Murray  (A.K.A. The Pub Landlord), Burt Kwouk (The Pink Panther films, Tenko) and Gary, former Controller of Channel 4. Packed full of clips of the original three series, the show is a fast moving and hilarious look back at one of Channel 4's best loved - and almost forgotten - shows.

Written and Directed by Harry Hill and produced by Adrian Sturges for Lucky Features Ltd.

 

 

BRAND NEW TOAST OF LONDON

A new sitcom written by Arthur Mathews (Father Ted and Big Train) and starring Matt Berry (the IT Crowd), who also stars as the lead.

Steven Toast (Matt Berry) is a successful actor. Now in his forties, Toast regularly appears in prestigious television dramas, and on the London stage.  However, he has made a recent career faux pass by electing to star in a new controversial west end stage play. The play is considered so outrageous, that Toast is frequently attacked by appalled members of the British public.

Recently divorced, Toast is staying with his friend Ed Howzer- Black and Ed's elderly  mistress, the agoraphobic Goodhouse.

Matt Berry says: "Toast was a pleasure to play mainly because I was playing a man in his late 40s so obviously I had to look fat. I ate everything I could see for a month before we shot and got back onto the  larger which I'd stopped drinking after being on the dole some years ago"

In the pilot episode Toast is asked to audition for the long running television series, ‘Summer Time Murders'. However, the producer has been recently imprisoned for racial chanting on the set of his own production, so Toast has to audition for the part of a gay corrupt detective during prisoner's visiting time.

Phil Clarke, Objective says: "Making Toast of London was great fun, and I hope that sense of playfulness comes across in the show. It was a delight to make it for Channel 4's Funny Fortnight, and an honour to  be included in such venerable company."

Director is Michael Cumming, Producers are Phil Clarke and Rachel Springett, and Executive Producers are Ben Farrell and Andrew Newman.

 

 

BRAND NEW JUST AROUND THE CORNER

The award-winning writing duo of Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin - co-creators of hit series Outnumbered and Drop the Dead Donkey - return to Channel 4 after fourteen years with Just Around The Corner, a half-hour comedy set in the future which will be screened as part of Channel 4's Funny Fortnight.

It's the story of a suburban family, the Pilches, who live in a flooded, warm and uncertain world where all the banks have disappeared, along with much of Britain's coastline.  The Pilch family encounter all the familiar dilemmas that have shaped family life through the ages, only this time those struggles are played out against the backdrop of a dog-eat-dog future.

Just Around The Corner stars James Fleet (The Vicar Of Dibley, Sea Of Souls, Four Weddings and a Funeral), James Bolam  (New Tricks, When The Boat Comes In, The Likely Lads), Jennie Jacques (Desperate Romantics) , Sanjeev Bhaskar (The Kumars at No 42, Goodness, Gracious Me) and Daisy Beaumont (The Armstrong and Miller Show, Star Stories) and introduces Jamie Davis as the feral boy Bosch.

Andy and Guy say: "Just Around The Corner is Mad Max meets The Good Life."

Jimmy Mulville comments: "It's been a while since we did Drop The Dead Donkey on C4, so it's very exciting to be back with a new half hour comedy from the same talented writers."

Just Around the Corner is a Hat Trick production for Channel 4 and was commissioned by Shane Allen, Head of Comedy, as part of Funny Fortnight, the two week extravaganza of brand new shows to be broadcast in August. Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton produce and direct and Jimmy Mulville is executive producer.

 

 

BEST EPISODE: THE IT CROWD (THE WORK OUTING)

Shown as part of Channel 4's Funny Fortnight season. When the dashing Philip from the sixth floor pops in to ask Jen to the theatre, she accepts right away. But, to her annoyance, so do Moss and Roy, turning what could have been a date into a work outing. As the evening spirals towards disaster, she wonders whether Philip is everything he claims to be...

Prod: Jamie Glazebrook; Writer/ Dir: Graham Linehan; Series Prod: Ash Atalla; Prod Co: TalkBack Thames

 

 

BEST EPISODE: PEEP SHOW

Another chance to see an early episode of the Golden Rose-winning sitcom. Mark's lack of success with Sophie is compensated for when he makes a new friend, Daryl, at the office. Mark is sure his new mate will broaden his horizons. Jeremy meets an old schoolfriend, Gog, who he used to bully. Gog is now successful and invites Jeremy to work on his latest art house movie.

Prod: Phil Clarke; Dir: Tristram Shappero; Exec Prod: Andrew O' Connor; Prod Co: Objective Productions Ltd

 

 

COMEDY LAB: PETER KAY THE SERVICES

Peter Kay plays the entire cast of characters caught on camera during a day in the life of a motorway service station near Bolton: hard-pressed manageress Pearl Harman; Paul LeRoy, local DJ at Chorley FM; embittered ex-RAC man Alan McLaherty, who runs his own motor recovery service; coach driver Craig; and part-time customer care assistant and drama student Matthew.

Dir: Andrew Gillman; Prod: Sandie Kirk; Prod Co: Open Mike

 

 

COMEDY LAB: KARL PILKINGTON: SATISFIED FOOL

Comedy Labs have been Channel 4's unique comedy showcase that has unearthed the stars of the future, including Peter Kay, Jimmy Carr, Dom Joly and Russell Brand. Prior to An Idiot Abroad, Karl set out to find out exactly how intelligent he is and if having more knowledge would make him any happier.  Karl left school 19 years ago with only one GCSE - an E in history - an exam that he doesn't remember taking: "Me mates keep telling me that I should be more intelligent and that I should know more, but... I say, if I did know more, would it make me any happier?" Karl gets advice from known intellectuals, including Germaine Greer, Will Self and even David Icke, while explaining his concerns on gaining more knowledge.

Dir: Dave Lambert; Prods: Dave Lambert, Karl Pilkington; Exec Prods: Henry Normal, Ted Dowd; Prod Co: Baby Cow

 

 

ARCHIVE TREAT: MEET RICKY GERVIAS

Chat show from the Channel 4 archives featuring some bloke from Reading. It's from back in the day when 1/ Top of the Pops was still on air and 2/ the much-loved guest, and frequent presenter of the aforementioned show, was still alive. Ricky Gervais asks celebrities the questions other interviewers wouldn't or probably shouldn't. With special guest Jimmy Saville.

Prod: Iain Morris; Studio Director: Ian Lorimer; Prod Co: TalkBack

 

 

COMEDY BLAPS: VIZ

Like the British Museum, the National Gallery and Broadmoor Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Viz Comic is a national institution. Having despoiled the country's news-stands with its unique blend of crap jokes, and toilet-fixated cartoon strips, Viz will now despoil your screens, with band new episodes, letters, profanities and Top Tips presented by Roger Mellie, Sid the Sexist, Biffa Bacon and the Fat Slags. All brought to life with toppest class animation and A-list voice talent, including Steve Coogan, Simon Greenall, Sarah Millican and Gavin Webster.

Exec Producer: Henry Normal; Directors: Alex Collier, Tim Searle; Producers: Tim Searle; Prod Co: Baby Cow

 

 

BRAND NEW 8 OUT OF 10 CATS DOES COUNTDOWN.

Following the success of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown earlier in the year, Jimmy Carr, Sean Lock and Jon Richardson will once again take on the famous words and numbers quiz. Jimmy Carr will host proceedings, and Sean Lock faces Jon Richardson in a rematch of the original encounter. 

David O'Doherty will be in Dictionary Corner along with Countdown regular Susie Dent. Meanwhile the country's favourite boffin Rachel Riley will be providing the letters and numbers with a little help from comedian Joe Wilkinson.

Jon returns victorious from his win early this year. Will Sean be able to even the score or will it be a total whitewash?

Executive Producers: Richard Osman, Ruth Phillips; Series Producer: Richard Cohen

Produced by Zeppotron, an Endemol company