Romesh Ranganathan to host BBC Two pilot That's It For The Week
- Romesh Ranganathan is to host a topical BBC Two comedy show pilot
- That's It For The Week is described as a "new kind of large-scale satirical comedy show that is also a quiz"
- The pilot episode will be recorded in London on the 20th December
Romesh Ranganathan is to host the pilot a new topical comedy show for BBC Two.
That's It For The Week is described as a "huge" new satirical comedy format. The programme is one of a number of ideas BBC Two is trialling as it looks for a new topical entertainment show it can launch. BBC executive Charlotte Moore has spoken recently about how the channel needs to be making more satirical comedy.
That's It For The Week is being made by Spelthorne Television, which was founded last year by comedy star Sacha Baron Cohen and producer Andrew Newman (the company is named after where Baron Cohen's character Ali G lived).
In the advert for a studio audience, the producers say: "Join Romesh Ranganathan for the pilot of his huge new BBC Two entertainment show, That's It For The Week. A totally new kind of large-scale satirical comedy show that is also a Quiz... Wait what...?
"Romesh will be joined by a host of much loved famous faces and comedians who will dissect and answer questions on all the topical news stories from the last week. From Trump to Blac Chyna, we'll leave no story unturned. Expect sketches, stand-up, and a lot of chaos!"
Ranganathan is no stranger to hosting satirical comedy, having previously hosted Radio 4 Extra's topical sketch show format Newsjack.
The BBC is not the only broadcaster hunting a new topical comedy hit. As previously reported, ITV is spending millions quietly developing a show which it is planned will be broadcast nightly in a 10pm slot next year, causing its flagship news programme to move. The Nightly Show starts a two week pilot recording run at the end of the month, but the episodes will not be seen. The plan to launch the show on ITV in early 2017.
That's It For The Week will be recorded on Tuesday 20th December at The London Studios. To apply to be in the audience see our TV tickets page
News on whether That's It For The Week will be turned into a TV series is expected to be revealed in 2017.