Live At The Apollo moves to BBC Two
Live At The Apollo, the BBC's flagship stand-up show, is moving from BBC One to BBC Two.
It's believed the show is being shifted to help BBC Two cement its reputation for comedy, and to allow Live At The Apollo to become "edgier", something it was hard for the format to do whilst operating in the spotlight of the network's more mainstream flagship channel.
The new series, which will air in a 10pm slot from November, has already been filmed. Recorded at the end of September, the new episodes will be hosted by Alan Carr, Dara O Briain, Noel Fielding, Romesh Ranganathan, Katherine Ryan and Russell Kane.
Additionally, a new Christmas special hosted by Nina Conti will be broadcast in the festive period.
Other acts due to appear across the series will include Paul Chowdhry, Henning Wehn, James Acaster, Zoe Lyons, Dane Baptiste, Al Porter, Tanyalee Davis, Hal Cruttenden, Josh Widdicombe, Jason Byrne, Stewart Francis, Roisin Conaty and Nick Helm.
BBC Two controller Kim Shillinglaw says: "Live At The Apollo has a fantastic reputation for bringing viewers the very best acts on the comedy circuit and I'm looking forward to it being even naughtier and noisier in its new BBC Two 10pm home."
Live At The Apollo was launched in September 2004 under the title Jack Dee Live At The Apollo. After two series as host, Dee stepped aside and subsequently guest hosts have been used for each episode. Series 10, which aired last year in a 10:35pm slot, was seen by 2.1 million viewers.
BBC commissioner Ed Sleeman adds "The incredible talent on show this series reaffirms that Live At The Apollo is still the place to be for the best stand-up comedy Britain has to offer, and with the show's move to BBC Two it's going to be edgier than ever before."
Live At The Apollo will join a comedy roster at BBC Two that also includes Jack Whitehall's Backchat, Boy Meets Girl, Episodes, Inside No. 9, Mock The Week, QI, Russell Howard's Good News and Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - all of which are confirmed as returning for further series.
Live At The Apollo returns to BBC Two on Monday 9th November.