Channel 4 announces more comedy commissions
Channel 4 have announced another batch of new comedy commissions, a result of an extra £5 million being added to its 2011 comedy budget following the demise of its expensive reality show Big Brother.
Simon Bird and Joe Thomas, who play Will and Simon in The Inbetweeners (pictured), alongside Edinburgh Comedy Award-winner Jonny Sweet will write and star in a new Comedy Showcase pilot called Chickens. The sitcom, set during World War I, sees the trio playing three young men who are avoiding going to war - one as a conscientious objector, one on health grounds and one who's a 'philandering scaredicat'.
Bird, Thomas and Sweet have worked together many times previously, as the three of them perform together as live sketch group House of Windsor
Kenton Allen, chief executive of production company Big Talk, said: "I've seen the future of comedy, and I'm afraid to say it's Simon, Joe and Jonny shaped. They are a delight to work with, have razor sharp comedy minds and Chickens promises to be very special indeed."
Simon Bird says: "We're really excited to be working with Channel 4 on our first sitcom. It's a dream come true for us and we can't wait to get started."
Channel 4 have also expressed an interest in two new specials for The Inbetweeners, which - if they go ahead - are widely expected to be the last episodes of the hugely popular teen sitcom. The special episodes would be set after the forthcoming Inbetweeners movie, in which the four lads go on a holiday abroad, and are likely to update on the characters' lives in the months after leaving the sixth form.
However, it should be noted that - contrary to some press reports - BCG understands that the specials are currently far from certain to go ahead; whilst Channel 4 is keen for more from the ratings-winning show, they have yet to make any agreement with writers Damon Beesley and Iain Morris.
Other commissions include...
A surreal sketch show starring Noel Fielding. The series will air on the network's digital channel E4. The star says: "I want to make something in the spirit of Spike Milligan or Kenny Everett but using modern techniques. I want the show to be psychedelic and beautiful but have charm and personality. Television needs a madman!"
A new panel show hosted by Chris Addison that will mix topical news highlights from the week with personal experience stories from both the audience and comedian guests, with the guests bringing in items to show viewers. Channel 4 executive Nerys Evans says: "The beauty of this format is that it's loose and unconstrained, giving new talent a chance to shine... think four funny people bouncing off each other rather than point scoring."
After several years mistreatment by ITV, the British Comedy Awards are switching to Channel 4, with producers promising to comprehensively cover the live ceremony. There's expected to be a number of changes to the awards themselves too, including increased support for 'grassroots' comedy projects.
Jonathan Ross will continue to present the awards, however the ceremony will be moved from its traditional December slot to January.
Shane Allen, Channel 4's Head of Comedy, said that his channel "continues to lead the way in comedy by backing new talent and giving established names the creative freedom to take risks. Channel 4's investment in comedy has risen sharply in the last two years - 2011 spend will be almost double 2009 levels - and the space Big Brother leaves puts us in the happy position of having even more hours to fill."
The above programmes will air in 2011. Before then, the network will be broadcasting shows including Frankie Boyle's Tramadol Nights; The Increasingly Poor Decisions Of Todd Margaret; The Morgana Show; Peep Show; Misfits; Campus; Robert's Web; and Meet The Parents, a sitcom which also stars Simon Bird.
Other commissions announced by Channel 4 in the last couple of months include another series of Facejacker; more Pete Versus Life; and 10 O'Clock Live, an ambitious live satire show hosted by Jimmy Carr, David Mitchell and Charlie Brooker.