Harry Hill explores the Great British sense of humour for Sky History
- Reginald D Hunter also investigates the class system in Britain's Greatest Obsessions with the help of Alexei Sayle
- The six part-series also features Henning Wehn, Liza Tarbuck, Chris Packham, Suggs and Lorraine Kelly
- Hill said: "We in this country are so proud and pleased with our sense of humour ... Where did that come from?!"
Harry Hill will explore the greatness of the Great British sense of humour as part of a new series for Sky History, British Comedy Guide can exclusively reveal.
Alexei Sayle, Reginald D Hunter, Henning Wehn and Liza Tarbuck also feature in the show, which has a working title Britain's Greatest Obsessions, and is made by Hill's production company Nit Television.
In the six 60-minute episodes, set to air next autumn, reflecting on British passions and preoccupations, Hill will discover whether we're correct to pride ourselves on our humour, with his interviewees including German stand-up Wehn and John Styles, a leading authority on Punch & Judy shows.
"We in this country are so proud and pleased with our sense of humour, for some reason we see it as another thing we've got over the rest of the world" Hill remarked.
"Where did that come from?! I've had so much fun talking to the experts and trying to find out... I have answers - and they'll surprise you!"
Meanwhile, UK-based American comic Hunter will examine the British class system and the Royal Family with fellow comic and left-wing class "warrior" Sayle, explaining: "One of the reasons I came to this country was because I was curious about Britain's obsession with not liking people who look like you.
"I found this to be a very evolved prejudice, much better than the simple racism I was accustomed to back home. I enjoyed exploring the many nuanced layers of the class system in Britain, and I am especially grateful to Comrade Alexei Sayle for coming along for the ride!"
Other episodes include Upstart Crow star Tarbuck reflecting on the British obsession with the weather, naturalist Chris Packham on our love of pets, Madness frontman Suggs on the national pastime of drinking and presenter Lorraine Kelly on the personality cult of Winston Churchill and our perpetual harking back to World War II.
Britain's Greatest Obsessions is directed by Marcus Liversedge (British As Folk, Almost Royal) for Nit Television, a joint venture between Hill and CPL Productions, and Motion Content Group.
The series editor is Meriel Beale and the executive producers are Hill, Mobashir Dar, Murray Boland, Danielle Lux, Martin Oxley and Dan Korn.
"From cream teas to odd socks there are so many everyday elements of life in Britain that one can get 'over the top' obsessed about" said Oxley, head of formats and entertainment UK for Motion, who "couldn't be any more thrilled than we are to be joining NIT TV and A+E Networks UK alongside such illustrious talent in exploring six of the best British obsessions."
The series was commissioned, and executive produced by Korn, VP of programming at A+E Networks UK, with Diana Carter, commissioning editor and head of talent at A+E Networks UK.
"I'm delighted to be continuing our exploration of the British psyche and sensibilities in the company of such an eminent cast of comedians, artists and experts" Korn said.
"Where else but Sky History would you get such a unique British 'brains trust', in which Suggs rubs shoulders with Chris Packham, Lorraine Kelly with Harry Hill, along, of course, with the sublime talents of Reginald D Hunter and Liza Tarbuck? We're excited to be working with Mob Dar and his great team at NIT TV and with the Motion Content Group on what promises to be a highly series."
Britain's Greatest Obsessions is Sky History's latest comedian-fronted series, following Al Murray: Why Do The Brits Win Every War?, currently airing and featuring Hunter and Wehn among other guests, and the forthcoming Craig Charles: UFO Conspiracies, set to broadcast in January.
Hill is currently on a book tour promoting his memoir, Fight! Thirty Years Not Quite At The Top, published on Thursday, and will perform a stand-up tour next autumn.