Comedy

Brassic co-creators discuss how Joe Gilgun turned his colourful past into a hit TV show

Brassic, a tale of Lancashire lads on the scam, is a madcap comedy with a sensitive side. The Guardian called it “a hilarious, warm, brutal melange”.

But it is not, as Gilgun was at pains to point out at a packed event, miserable: “Any show that represents the working classes is fucking miserable. Some of the happiest people I know are working class; some of the smartest lads I know are working class.”

Dave commissions second series of comedy Sliced

(credit: UKTV)

The series, co-written by Phil Bowker and Samson Kayo (Timewasters), will be extended to six episodes.

Sliced follows the hilarious, unlikely encounters of Joshua (Kayo) and Ricky (Theo Barklem Biggs), two mischievous pizza delivery drivers in south London.

Kayo commented: “We go again! I’m so excited to be back on Dave with series two. Last series was just a taster, now it’s go time!

“I’m looking forward to creating some more explosively funny and authentic stories with this amazingly talented team."

ITV announces upcoming comedy Kate and Koji

(credit: ITV)

The six-part series will star Golden Globe winner Brenda Blethyn (Vera) as Kate, who owns a café in a rundown seaside town. Kate forms an unlikely and at times volatile friendship with an African asylum seeker, a doctor called Koji, played by Jimmy Akingbola (Arrow).

While the pair come from very different worlds, they find that they have a lot in common, including a furious determination to never back down from an argument…

Taskmaster: Top ten tasks

Greg Davies and Alex Horne (Credit: UKTV)

Created and written by comedian Alex Horne, the series stars Greg Davies as the Taskmasterwith Horne acting as Davies’ assistant and umpire during the tasks.

Each series, five contestants compete each week to score the highest mark on the bizarre tasks set by the Taskmaster.

Taskmaster originally aired on Dave, but will make the move to Channel 4 in 2020 following a new six series deal. 

With over 200 tasks to date so far, here is a roundup of some of our favourites.

Channel 4 acquires Taskmaster

Greg Davies and Alex Horne (Credit: Avalon/Channel 4/Dave/UKTV)

​Initially a live show at the Edinburgh Fest Fringe, Taskmaster was originally developed with Channel 4 and then later commissioned by UKTV where it aired on Dave for nine series.

The series follows Greg Davies and show creator Alex Horne as they host a series of complex and comedic challenges that test the wit of a line-up of famous contestants.

Following the six series deal, new episodes of Taskmaster will air on Channel 4.

Comedy masterclass with Nerys Evans

Sarah Asante and Nerys Evans (Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian)

How her career began: "I’m from a very small town in Wales. No-one I knew ever worked in TV. I had no in. I just followed my dream and worked really hard to get my foot in the door.

"I’m not an extraordinary person. I am very lucky to work with some quite extraordinary people. It’s hard to get into telly and it’s getting harder.

"I am a massive comedy fan. I wanted to do something in comedy although I didn’t know what that would be. I read politics at Liverpool’s John Moores University where I joined the student radio station.