BBC commissions improv show from Mock The Week creators
Hugh Dennis, the star of Outnumbered, Mock The Week and The Now Show, is to host a new improvised comedy for the BBC.
Fast And Loose has been created by Dan Patterson, the co-producer behind the huge 1990s improv hit Whose Line is it Anyway?, and also the co-creator of BBC Two's top rated topical comedy show Mock The Week.
The format of Fast And Loose is similar to that of 'Whose Line?', in that each episode contains a selection of improvised games and scenes based on material thrown at the performers by the host and audience suggestions.
The creators say the new show "will feature the best of up-and-coming British comedy performers." A number of actors who are part of live sketch groups and take ensemble roles in TV sketch shows have been signed up to appear. They include Greg Davies (Ask Rhod Gilbert, We Are Klang), Justin Edwards (The Consultants, Jeremy Lion), Pippa Evans (Loretta Maine), David Armand (How Not To Live Your Life, The Armstrong & Miller Show), Marek Larwood (We Are Klang), Laura Solon (Harry & Paul), Humphrey Ker (The Penny Dreadfuls) and Tom Parry (Pappy's).
Suzanne Gilfillan, Executive Editor for the BBC, comments: "Fast And Loose is warm comedy entertainment with a modern twist, with a rich mix of established performers and new comedy stars in the making, reflecting the wealth of new and exciting improv talent on the stand-up comedy circuit."
Hugh Dennis adds: "Fast And Loose is the ultimate team sport, with a group of fantastically clever character actors. They are the next generation of improvisers, and improvisation has moved on enormously. We have electronic trickery, animated chickens and blowfish as well as songs and games including a fantastic sideways scene. It is half an hour of controlled improvised silliness and there is no scoring and no stars. To quote David Cameron: 'We are all in it together.'"
Following the non-broadcast pilot in May, a full series of Fast & Loose will now be recorded at BBC TV Centre in November and December, and will be broadcast on BBC Two in January 2011. To see the show being recorded for free, visit our tickets page