Mock The Week to return on General Election day
- Mock The Week Series 16 starts on Thursday 8th June - General Election day
- Series guests will include Sara Pascoe, James Acaster, Ed Gamble and Milton Jones
- Tom Allen, Tez Ilyas, Kerry Godliman and Felicity Ward will be amongst the show's newcomers
It has been confirmed today that the next series of Mock The Week will start on television as polling stations close on General Election day.
The topical comedy show will be return to BBC Two at 10pm on Thursday 8th June, for the first episode of its 16th series.
Producers say: "If we can be certain about anything in the current climate it is surely that this summer will be all about 10pm on Thursday 8th June. From the moment the date was announced, the country has been abuzz with speculation as to which issues might arise, how personnel could change and what the future will hold, but, however it does finally pan out, Series 16 of Mock The Week will definitely be the best yet."
The comical press release continues: "Westminster sources insist the Prime Minister's noting of the long-running comedy show's impending return to BBC Two wasn't the only reason for her snap General Election announcement, but she'd be far from the first public figure to act quickly rather than risk the after-effects of satirical surgery from Dara O Briain, Hugh Dennis & Co.
"'Healthy poll ratings meant an election was probably in the back of Theresa's mind, but I've no doubt the prospect of a cheeky Newsreel, a damning Picture of the Week or, worst of all, a relentless Scene We'd Like to See forced her hand and necessitated the quick turnaround', said a man eating a pasty outside Embankment station."
To celebrate the show's 12th year on air, the production team have mocked up a graphic featuring the comedians who have appeared on the show since it launched in 2005, spoofing the famous cover artwork for The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
The producers say: "The accompanying artwork (sort of) illustrates Mock The Week's role in public life is not only to serve as a catalyst for political action, but also to act as a sort of comedy Valhalla.
"Across its 12 year, 162 episode life span, the show has provided a platform for many of the stand-out stand-ups of the 21st century and this year's run will be no exception with established names such as Ed Byrne, Sara Pascoe, James Acaster, Ed Gamble, Angela Barnes, Milton Jones, Nish Kumar and Zoe Lyons mixing with newcomers including Tom Allen, Tez Ilyas, Kerry Godliman and Felicity Ward to name just a few."
Series 16 will run for six weeks in June and July, before taking a now traditional summer break. The second half of the series will be broadcast in September and October.
The producers say: "Not only will we have an election result to digest, there's the ongoing Brexit negotiations, the Lions' Tour, London's World Athletics Championships as well as the possibility of another referendum on something, and the likelihood of nuclear war, and if none of those work, we can just make up our own fake news. This series is going to go down better than Kendall Jenner's Pepsi ad."