Lee Mack developing new Saturday night BBC1 show
The BBC are to pilot a new Saturday entertainment show fronted by Lee Mack.
The stand-up comedian will record a trial episode of Lee Mack's All Star Cast next month, which - if successful - will then be commissioned as a prime-time series for Saturday nights on BBC One in 2011.
The format will see Mack performing stand-up and sketches to a live studio audience with the help of star guests, including Catherine Tate. The show will also feature a guest stand-up slot, and live music too.
The programme is being billed as "the new BBC1 Saturday night show where everyone's a star", as volunteers from the audience will be invited to take part in the big end-of-show sketch alongside the established comedy stars.
Lee Mack's All Star Cast is being developed by Arlo and Zeppotron, the latter of which is the production company behind Would I Lie To You?, the panel show on which Mack is a regular team captain.
It has been known for some time that Lee Mack has been looking to produce a mainstream entertainment show. He said earlier in the year: "I'm trying to get my own variety series off the ground, which I'm doing a pilot for. It's early doors and I don't know what it is yet, but basically it's a variety show with a bit of stand-up and sketches."
Mack has some previous experience in the genre. In 2005 and 2007 he presented The Lee Mack Show on Radio 2, a popular variety show featuring stand-up, sketches and music.
Lee Mack's All Star Cast will be recorded at BBC TV Centre in London on Sunday 19th December 2010. To watch the recording, visit our tickets page
A fourth series of Mack's hit sitcom Not Going Out, which co-stars fellow stand-up Tim Vine, is currently in production, and will be shown on BBC One in early 2011.
Story update (April 2011). The show was indeed commissioned: