British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide
Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, Dara O Briain
Mock The Week

Mock The Week

  • TV panel show
  • BBC Two
  • 2005 - 2022
  • 212 episodes (21 series)

Topical panel show taking a satirical look at the week's news. Hosted by Dara O Briain with regular player Hugh Dennis. Also features Andy Parsons, Frankie Boyle, Russell Howard, Rory Bremner and Chris Addison

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All series

Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, Rory Bremner, Dara O Briain, Frankie Boyle. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 1 (2005)

The first series of Mock The Week made its debut on Sunday 5th June 2005. The format at that time was that Hugh Dennis and Frankie Boyle were team captains on the one side whilst Rory Bremner captained the other team. There were five episodes in this first series (it was due to be six however the last recording was cancelled due to a terrorist alert)

Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Rory Bremner, Dara O Briain, Hugh Dennis, Frankie Boyle. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 2 (2006)

Following the success of the first series, the show returned six months later for a six-episode second series. The comedy was also boosted by a move into a prime-time slot on Friday night. The core panel remained un-changed with Hugh and Frankie on the one-side and Rory providing the impressions from the other side.

Mock The Week. Andy Parsons. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 3 (2006)

The Autumn series saw the show move into its now traditional Thursday night slot. There was another significant change too - over the summer Rory Bremner had decided to leave the show and so a new team captain was required. Regular guest Andy Parsons, who had already appeared in over half of the episodes up to this point, was the natural choice and so took to the centre chair on the right-hand side.

Mock The Week. Russell Howard. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 4 (2007)

When, in January 2007, Mock The Week returned to BBC Two for a fourth series the producers decided to even things out so that both teams had two regulars and one guest each week. Russell Howard had made an instant impact in the previous series - to such an extent he had been booked for four out of the six episodes in series three. It was decided he would officially join Andy Parsons as a regular for this fourth series.

Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Frankie Boyle, Hugh Dennis, Dara O Briain, Andy Parsons, Russell Howard. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 5 (2007)

By the fifth series the show had really hit its stride; the regular five were working very well together, and ratings were continuing to rise. The BBC were so happy with the series and eager for it to continue that they commissioned an extended eleven episode series to fill BBC Two's schedules during the Summer and early Autumn.

Mock The Week. Dara O Briain. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 6 (2008)

With series five proving very popular with audiences, the BBC ordered another twelve episodes of Mock The Week to fill the Summer 2008 schedules. The regular team were all back, along with regular guests like David Mitchell, Michael McIntyre, Ed Byrne and Mark Watson. With another England manager to assess, a London Mayor to laugh at and an American Presidential election to decide there was plenty of material lined-up for them.

Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Andy Parsons, Hugh Dennis, Dara O Briain, Russell Howard, Frankie Boyle. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 7 (2009)

Mock The Week ran for 12 weeks in 2009. There may have been no Olympics in 2009, but the team were able to use the time to decide on their approach to Barack Obama as well as comment on the usual tabloid scare stories, reality TV controversies, the MP expenses scandal and the on-going 'credit crunch'.

Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Russell Howard, Dara O Briain, Hugh Dennis, Andy Parsons. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 8 (2010)

This was the first series without Frankie Boyle and so from here on in there is now an extra guest each week. It was a six-part series, the first of two commissioned for broadcast in 2010.

Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Andy Parsons, Dara O Briain, Russell Howard, Hugh Dennis. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 9 (2010)

The team return for another series of topical joking - albeit split either side of the Edinburgh Festival. This series also sees a number of new stand-up comedians given a try out on the show.

Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, Dara O Briain, Chris Addison, Andy Parsons. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 10 (2011)

Andy, Dara and Hugh returned for 6 episodes in June and July 2011. The show took a break over August to avoid the Edinburgh Festival and the news-free papers, before returning in September for another batch of episodes. For this second batch, Chris Addison was named as the official regular replacement for Russell Howard.

Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, Dara O Briain, Andy Parsons, Chris Addison. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 11 (2012)

2012 was a big year for Mock The Week. Not only did the series feature the show's 100th episode, but there was the Olympics, The Queen's Diamond Jubilee and Euro 2012 football to joke about.

Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, Chris Addison, Dara O Briain, Andy Parsons. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 12 (2013)

The team returned for another series in 2013, once again split either side of August's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Andy Parsons, Dara O Briain, Hugh Dennis. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 13 (2014)

Dara, Hugh and Andy return for another year of satire in 2014.

Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, Dara O Briain, Andy Parsons. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 14 (2015)

Series 14, broadcasting again in June & July, and then September & October, marked Mock The Week's 10th birthday. At the end of the series, Andy Parsons announced he was leaving the programme.

Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, Dara O Briain

Series 15 (2016)

Another run of the series, split in half again by August's Edinburgh Festival. Dara and Hugh are the only regulars in this series.

Mock The Week. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 16 (2017)

The show returned as the polls closed on the 2017 General Election.

Mock The Week. Image shows from L to R: Hugh Dennis, Dara O Briain. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 17 (2018)

Series 17 covers Summer and early Autumn 2018. There's the Royal Wedding, the World Cup and lots more to discuss.

Mock The Week. Dara O Briain. Copyright: Angst Productions

Series 19 (2020 - 2021)

Series 19 was the first since the coronavirus hit. Filmed with lockdowns occurring, the stars were separated by safety barriers, and the studio audience attended virtually via Zoom.

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