The Now Show to conclude after 64 series
- After 25 years on air, The Now Show is coming to a close
- Starting on 15th March, Series 64 will be its last
- Hosts Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis will launch a new podcast, RouteMasters
The Now Show's upcoming sixty-fourth series will be its last, the BBC has announced.
Series 64 begins on Friday 15th March, bringing another six episodes of satirical comedy from hosts Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis. However, 25 years since the sketch, song and stand-up series was first broadcast, it will bow out to make way for new formats.
Punt and Dennis, meanwhile, will return to the BBC audio fold in a brand new comedy podcast, RouteMasters. Ten episodes have been commissioned to launch on the BBC Sounds audio on-demand platform later this year, with a Radio 4 broadcast scheduled to begin in October.
Radio 4 explain: "The Now Show's final series will feature another raft of exciting comedy talent performing sketches, songs and stand-up, in celebration of the programme's trailblazing and influential style of comedy, which has been delighting listeners for 64 series.
"Since its first episode in 1998, The Now Show has helped launch the careers of countless household-name stand-ups and has been much loved by listeners. It covered many of the most memorable moments in British public life over the past 25 years, including the London Olympics, the total eclipse in 1999, the Brexit referendum, the Millennium, and the rise and fall of multiple Prime Ministers. Some episodes were recorded under remarkable and challenging circumstances - such as one show which went ahead with no audience after a police incident near the venue in 2005, and the first lockdown of the pandemic while the cast were confined to their homes."
RouteMasters is described as "a podcast in which Punt & Dennis and their guest take a journey through new knowledge, as in turn, they attempt to find the most entertaining route between random topics, people, places or things which at first glance appear to be entirely unconnected".
Hugh Dennis and Steve Punt comment: "For the last 25 years it has been a privilege and a pleasure to follow world changing news events and laugh at them. Now though we are very much looking forward to our new place in the Radio 4 line-up, with a new show, where we turn our sights on pretty much anything other than the topical!"
Radio 4's Commissioning Editor for Comedy, Julia McKenzie says: "As we reach this milestone, now feels like the right time for Hugh and Steve to turn their legendary comic talents to a new Radio 4 show. We are so proud of everything that The Now Show has achieved - it's been entertaining listeners with its distinctive blend of stand-up, sketches and songs for 25 years. As a former producer of the show as well as the current commissioner, I'd like to thank Hugh and Steve for their passion and commitment to audio comedy and the audience, as well as the production team at BBC Studios, and all the guest comedians, actors and writers involved in the show."