Channel 4 Expands Schedule With New Comedy
Channel 4 has given the green light to several new comedy commissions, extending its programme portfolio and building on its stated intention to air more original British comedy, made at the launch of its spring schedule.
Caroline Leddy, the broadcaster’s head of comedy, and head of entertainment, Andrew Newman, announced the new commissions, which include Balls of Steel, from the makers of Derren Brown: Trick of the Mind and a new series of Peep Show.
Balls of Steel is hosted by Mark Dolan, star of The Richard Taylor Interviews, and challenges comedians and performers to go to extreme and entertaining lengths to prove that they have the biggest ‘balls of steel.’
Elsewhere, Dirty Tricks will see Channel 4 air the first studio-based magic studio show for ten years, while The Zeppotron Sketch Show, yet to be given a finalised title, welcomes you to the lives and loves of thirty-something urbanites in “a modern, naturalistic world where characters argue and flirt with each other in the everyday haunts of city folk – bars, restaurants, parks, bedrooms and the odd brothel”.
Meanwhile, The Law Of The Playground will see comedians reminiscing about their schooldays, covering the warped games, chants and nicknames of school break periods, inspired by The Law Of The Playground website and book by Jonathan Blyth.
Finally, The I.T. Crowd, written and directed by the co-writer of Father Ted and Black Books, concentrates on the lives and work of two I.T. department geeks.
Commenting on the new commissions, Caroline Leddy said: “A fabulous crop – dead good, dead funny and dead exciting.”
Andrew Newman added; “We are thrilled to announce such a fine raft of daring new programmes. Like all the best Channel 4 shows, they feature brand new and exhilarating talent and include strong elements of risk and ground breaking ideas.”
The latest commissions follow Channel 4’s commitment to comedy and entertainment programming, demonstrated at the launch of its spring schedule earlier this year. The new schedule ushered in shows such as 8 Out Of 10 Cats, hosted by comedian Jimmy Carr, and Johnny Vegas: 18 Stone Of Idiot (see Channel 4 Bets On Drama For Spring Schedule).
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