8 Out Of 10 Cats returns with new team captains
- After a year off air, topical panel show 8 Out Of 10 Cats is to return to television
- The show will now premiere on More4, with new team captains Aisling Bea and Rob Beckett
- Meanwhile Channel 4 has ordered 18 more episodes of 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Panel show 8 Out Of 10 Cats is to return with new team captains Aisling Bea and Rob Beckett.
Channel 4 announced today that the topical format, still hosted by Jimmy Carr, will return to television soon for its 19th series. This will be the first run of the panel show since its last outing on television in December 2014.
However, the twelve-part series will move channels. It'll now premiere on More4 before being repeated on Channel 4.
The producers explain the move is about reaching "a new generation of comedy fans". Talking about the new run, due to start this autumn, they say: "Each week Jimmy, Aisling and Rob will be joined by a host of celebrities and comics, including the most promising up and coming comedy talent. Together they will thrash out the topics that have got Britain talking. As ever, they will draw on polls, statistics and surveys, pontificating on anything from Brexit to the Branjelina split."
Meanwhile it has been announced that 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, the popular words and numbers game spin-off from the main show, has landed its biggest single commission yet.
Channel 4 has ordered a further 18 episodes of the format, with Jimmy Carr to be joined by Sean Lock and Jon Richardson again.
The big episode order comes as Cats Does Countdown continues to pull in large audience figures. The show delivered a consolidated audience average of 1.9 million viewers per episode in its last series. This equates to a 7.7% market share, which is 17% above Channel 4's primetime average.
Guests in the new episodes will include David Walliams, Catherine Tate, Noel Fielding, Roisin Conaty, Lee Mack, Victoria Coren Mitchell, Claudia Winkleman, Bob Mortimer, Isy Suttie, Russell Howard, Richard Ayoade, Jessica Hynes and David Mitchell. Former regular Joe Wilkinson is also set to reappear.
Sarah Lazenby, Channel 4 Commissioning Editor, talking about both shows, says: "We're thrilled to be bringing back one of the sharpest topical panel shows on TV. This is a huge endorsement for the brand and a great opportunity to develop new talent. We're delighted that the incredibly talented Aisling Bea and Rob Beckett will join as team captains in its newest incarnation on More4 whilst the dons Jimmy, Sean and Jon continue to make 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown appointment to view on 4."
Ruth Phillips, from production company Zeppotron, adds: "We're thrilled that the brand is going from strength to strength with such a major commission of 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown for Channel 4 and the original 8 Out Of 10 Cats returning to entertain a fresh demographic. We've always relished the opportunity to nurture new talent and a crucial part of the show's brief will be to launch and support new comedians."
The current series of 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown is airing on Channel 4 on Saturday nights at 9pm. The new episodes announced today will be shown in 2017.
8 Out Of 10 Cats will launch on More4 later this autumn.