David Walliams hosting new BBC One panel show pilot
BBC One is piloting a new panel show format hosted by David Walliams.
I Love My Country sees two celebrity teams - captained by Frank Skinner and Greg Davies - challenge each other's knowledge of the United Kingdom. The show also involves the studio audience - with half of the studio supporting each team.
The programme is being made by Tapler, the production company behind The Voice UK, alongside the Scottish arm of Avalon Television, the production company the makes shows including Russell Howard's Good News, Frank Skinner's Opinionated, That Sunday Night Show and Not Going Out.
A run-through of the format was conducted on Tuesday night (10th July), where Walliams, Skinner and Davies were joined by CBBC presenters Sam Nixon & Mark Rhodes, the singer Chico, Christine Hamilton and ex-Big Brother contestant Brian Belo.
The Sun newspaper quotes an un-named audience member as saying: "It was very funny. Frank just kept winding up David all the way through that he wasn't doing his job right. But David took it in the right way and gave as good as he got. The chemistry between the three was great."
Walliams logged on to Twitter to say: "Today I took part in a run-through for a new BBC entertainment show. Frank Skinner was one of the team captains and my God he's a funny man."
A full pilot of the show is now being planned, with studio space booked at BBC Television Centre for Monday 23rd July. Tickets are currently available, with producers describing the show as follows: "Hosted by David Walliams, with team captains Frank Skinner and Greg Davies and a top house band, I Love My Country is a brand new comedy entertainment show where two celebrity teams challenge each other's knowledge of the United Kingdom. In this fun packed show we need YOU, the studio audience to get involved and support one of the celebrity teams. And if your team wins, you'll take home a special 'I Love My Country' prize."
I Love My Country will not be Walliams' first regular panel role. He hosted the ill-fated celebrity-centric panel show Wall Of Fame for Sky1 in 2011 - the broadcaster's only comedy commission in recent years not to be returning for a second run.
Should BBC commissioners deem the pilot to be a success, a full series is likely to be recorded and broadcast later this year.