Comedy

David Schwimmer to lead new Sky comedy Intelligence

(David Schwimmer and Nick Mohammed Credit: Sky)

Set in the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters, David Schwimmer will play a power-hungry NSA agent who teams up with an incompetent computer analyst (Nick Mohammed).

The pair, along with a newly formed team, will deal with the daily hassles of working in an office, handling bothersome colleagues and trying to tackle cybercrime.

The six-part series is based in Cheltenham and is co-produced by Expectation and Dark Harbor Stories.

Rosie Jones’s TV diary

Rosie Jones on stage at the Funny Women Awards 2016 (Credit: Funny Women Ltd.)

This week, like most weeks, has been a little busy. And when I say, “a little busy”, I mean rushed-off-my-feet-no-time-to-sleep busy. I mean, is sleep really necessary?

I’m thinking, no, not really. Apart from the Bags for Life under my eyes, I am really happy, and every morning I wake up with a smile on my face. I still can’t believe that I get paid to make people laugh. I am living the dream.

Al Murray heads to Quest with new comedy quiz show

Al Murray

Al Murray’s Great British Pub Quiz sees the UK’s most passionate pub teams compete against each other for a cash prize and the prestigious golden tankard.

Joined by a special celebrity guest each episode, Murray will test the pub team’s knowledge with brain teasers, picture rounds, mystery objects and classic pub style questions on a variety of topics.

Filmed in front of a live studio audience, the studio will have all the features of a working pub, with actor Shaun Williamson (Extras) keeping score as resident barman.

Samson Kayo to star in new Dave comedy Sliced

Samson Kayo (Credit: UKTV)

Sliced follows Joshua (Kayo) and Ricky (Barklem-Biggs), two friends that just want to make some money, move out of their parents' homes and meet women. However, the ridiculous situations they encounter get in the way of them achieving their goals.

The three-part series is also written by Kayo alongside Phil Bowker (PhoneShop) and produced by Lovely Electricity, and will air next year on Dave.

ITV launches Comedy 50:50 initiative for female writers

ITV’s Controller of Comedy Saskia Schuster (Credit: ITV)

The initiative seeks to put measures in place to address the gender imbalance in comedy on television.

ITV’s Controller of Comedy Saskia Schuster hosted the launch event supported by the RTS, The Writers' Guild, Era 50:50, Funny Women and BAFTA on 18th October.

Producers, writers and agents were able to network at the event, with each producer hosting introductory meetings with female writers.

Comedian Daniel Sloss on nationality, humour and his success

Daniel Sloss (Credit: Jill Furmanovsky)

The thing I absolutely adore about being Scottish is that it doesn’t matter where I gig in Scotland, it’s a homecoming gig. If you’re a scouse comedian, your homecoming gig is in Liverpool. If you’re a Manchester comedian, your homecoming gig is Manchester. If you’re a London comic, you’re fucked because nobody cares.

But the joyous thing about being Scottish is that the Scots are disgustingly supportive of their own. They’re loyal to a fault. It’s just nice because it’s “local boy done good” regardless of where I am in Scotland. I love that.

Inside No. 9 returns for live Halloween special

Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton (Credit: BBC)

The live episode is the twenty-fifth story to come out of the RTS award-winning series. The comedy duo, who will write and perform in the live special, will be joined by guest star Stephanie Cole (Still Open All Hours).

Dead Line focuses on the unfortunate Arthur Flitwick (Steve Pemberton), as he discovers a mysterious old mobile phone in a local graveyard.

Unknown to him, the phone is tied to dark mystical forces and when Flitwick attempts to contact the owner, his good deed goes punished and he is forced into his own living nightmare.

Mel and Sue star in new Sky One comedy Hitmen

Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc (Credit: UKTV/Love Productions/BBC Worldwide)

Produced by Tiger Aspect, Hitmen (working title) will be a six-part original comedy that tells the story of contract killers Jamie (Mel Giedroyc) and Fran (Sue Perkins). The duo are not your average assassins, however, nor the most professional, as the pair botch up assassinations and work from a scruffy van. Their incompetence sees the pair thrown into ridiculous adventures, testing their friendship along the way.

Sherlock star Andrew Scott joins Fleabag

Andrew Scott joins a returning cast which includes Olivia Colman (Godmother), Sian Clifford (Claire), Bill Paterson (Dad), Brett Gelman (Martin), Jenny Rainsford (Boo) and Hugh Skinner (Harry).

According to Executive Producer Lydia Hampson, Waller-Bridge began writing the new series in January this year, and the results, promises BBC Comedy boss Shane Allen, are “knockout”.