Channel 4 launches Jokes Only A ... Can Tell series
- Channel 4 has ordered the online series Jokes Only A ... Can Tell, showcasing Muslim, disabled, Jewish, Nigerian and lesbian stand-ups
- Sarah Keyworth, Nabil Abdulrashid, Tim Renkow, Jen Brister, Shazia Mirza and Jess Robinson are among the comedians featured
- "This series is giving both a voice to a range of under-represented communities, as well as providing a platform for up-and-coming comedians to have a voice" said commissioner Charlie Hyland
Sarah Keyworth, Nabil Abdulrashid, Tim Renkow, Jen Brister, Shazia Mirza and Jess Robinson are among the stand-ups featuring in a diverse new Channel 4 series in which comedians are given licence to make jokes about their own communities, British Comedy Guide can exclusively reveal.
In the online showcase Jokes Only A ... Can Tell, Muslim, lesbian, disabled, Jewish and Nigerian comics share material about their backgrounds, inspired by their personal and shared experiences, as well as reflecting on real-world issues and the stigmas they often face.
Launching tonight at 9:25pm with Jokes Only A Muslim Can Tell, the five-minute shorts will be uploaded to Channel 4's Facebook and Instagram accounts weekly.
The full line-up, featuring Abdulrashid twice, is:
Jokes Only A Muslim Can Tell - 16th May
Nabil Abdulrashid, Shazia Mirza, Aatif Nawaz, Ola Labib and Fatiha El-Ghorri
Jokes Only The Disabled Can Tell - 23rd May
Jamie MacDonald, Eshaan Akbar, Tim Renkow, Jo Coffey and Joshua Robertson
Jokes Only A Jew Can Tell - 30th May
Andrea Hubert, Joe Bor, Katie Price, Jess Robinson and Joe Jacobs
Jokes Only A Nigerian Can Tell - 6th June
Emmanuel Sonubi, Nabil Abdulrashid, Lola Jagun and Funmbi Omotayo
Jokes Only A Lesbian Can Tell - 13th June
Sharon Wanjohi, Jen Brister, Sarah Keyworth, Jodie Mitchell and Chloe Petts
Produced by Rohan Acharya (Dara O Briain's Go 8 Bit) for fledgling production company Distant Voices (Christmas Comedy Club With Lost Voice Guy), Jokes Only A ... Can Tell is executive produced by Celia Taylor and was commissioned by Charlie Hyland for Channel 4.
"I'm really glad we've been able to work with Distant Voices to create Jokes Only A ... Can Tell and I hope audiences really enjoy the comedy as well as being left with some food for thought" reflected digital commissioning editor Hyland. "This series is giving both a voice to a range of under-represented communities, as well as providing a platform for up-and-coming comedians to have a voice."
Taylor added: "It's been brilliant to work with so much incredible and burgeoning talent and give them a safe place to share their stories and personal experiences through comedy."
Here is Episode 1: