Alexander Armstrong to present Epic Win
Alexander Armstrong is set to present a new prime-time Saturday comedy show on BBC One.
Epic Win, which is being produced in-house by the BBC, is described as "the first Saturday night format to marry the worlds of panel show comedy with talent show entertainment."
However, the BBC stresses the programme isn't a talent show for "fame hungry wannabes", but is mainly about "British eccentrics showcasing unique passions and skills that you couldn't see anywhere else."
Contestants set to take part on the show include a Smurf collector who can recognise any figurine by its silhouette; a garden shed inventor who made a backpack snow-machine so it can feel like Christmas wherever he goes; and a man who can read hundreds of barcodes.
The format will see each contender demonstrate their talent to a panel of comedians who will then decide how much money they want to award the contender based on originality, personality and performance.
Joe Lycett, a rising star on the stand-up circuit and a finalist in the BBC New Comedy Awards 2011, and east-end comedy star Micky Flanagan, have been signed up as regulars for the show. They will be joined by a different guest each week during the six-part run.
The game-show aspect of Epic Win sees the panellists each putting a secret cash value on the talents they see, up to £1,000 - making a total jackpot of £3,000. The performer then has to guess how much the panel thinks they're worth, facing an automatic increasing totalizer. If they guess correctly, they get the total amount. If they guess below the amount, they get whatever they have guessed. But, if they over-estimate their worth, they walk away with nothing and exit through the 'epic fail' door.
BBC commissioner Katie Taylor says: "BBC In-house Entertainment is proud to bring the UK's unsung heroes and their quirky talents to BBC One's Saturday night audiences in Epic Win. What's not to like about a fishmonger who, when blindfolded, can identify different types of fish whilst being slapped around the face?"
Alexander Armstrong's previous presenting experience includes hosting daytime quiz show Pointless and presenting topical comedy show Have I Got News For You as a regular guest host. Epic Win is the latest in a string of new projects for the comic actor. He is also filming a new Channel 4 sitcom pilot with comedy partner Ben Miller (story), and is in talks to record a full series of his new panel show Alexander Armstrong's Big Ask for digital channel Dave (story).
Epic Win will transmit on Saturday nights on BBC One later this summer. The show will be recorded at BBC TV Centre during July. To be in the audience see our free tickets page