Dave Sets Swath of New Comedy-Entertainment Titles

UKTV has unveiled its forthcoming slate of brand-new original comedy-entertainment shows for its comedy channel Dave.

In Outsiders, produced by Renegade Pictures, David Mitchell challenges a returning cast of three pairs of comedians to prove they can thrive in the great outdoors. Ed Gamble, Jamali Maddix, Jessica Knappett, Kerry Godliman, Lou Sanders and Toussaint Douglass are among the participating comedians.

British As Folk, from STV, sees Fern Brady, Darren Harriot and Ivo Graham travel across the nation discovering and interrogating the stereotypes and traditions that make up modern British life.

Produced by Interstellar Television, the comedy quiz show Question Team is hosted by Richard Ayoade and makes its players set the questions. In each episode, three comic guests provide their own unique, personally themed round for Ayoade and their fellow contestants to take part in.

The Island, hosted by Tom Allen with Kemah Bob and Jason Forbes, will see four comics play God across the series as they conceive their dream island nations to rule over. The series is produced by Super Best Quality Video Productions and created, developed and executive produced by James Acaster, Ed Gamble, Lloyd Langford and John Robins.

From Second Act and written by Lucy Beaumont and Tim Reid (Car Share), Meet the Richardsons will return for a third season. The series offers a fictional window into the funny and frustrated marriage of Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont as they give viewers a glimpse of their life in Yorkshire.

Richard Watsham, UKTV director of commissioning, said: “We’ve been using the last twelve months to develop the next wave of unique and innovative comedy formats. We’re certainly not content to dine out on last year’s BAFTA success in this category. Instead, we want to make sure that we have a number of strong shows coming through, to keep pushing the boundaries in this space and to join Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable, which launched successfully earlier in the year.

He added: “I’m particularly excited to welcome such a broad range of talent who are new to the channel. I want Dave to be the place that comics come to have fun, to make the kinds of shows they can’t make elsewhere and to develop their careers further, whether they’re emerging, or established stars.”

Steve North, genre general manager, comedy and entertainment, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming so many fantastic comedians to Dave, some of them for the very first time. This is the channel’s biggest-ever slate of new shows and we know our viewers will love what we’ve got in store for them all.”