- The commission marks the first time UKTV's industry Disabled Comedy Showcase will be broadcast to the public
Tuesday 26th April 2022
UKTV has commissioned Rosie Jones's Disability Comedy Extravaganza (1x45') as a UKTV Play and Dave YouTube channel exclusive. The live comedy showcase will be filmed on April 27th at a central London location and will launch on UKTV Play and the Dave YouTube channel in early summer.
Richard Watsham, UKTV's director of commissioning said,
The showcase will see host Rosie Jones welcome up-and-coming comedy talent to the stage for an in-person audience of producers and commissioners from across the industry, helping to deliver on UKTV's commitment to provide a platform for diverse and underrepresented talent, alongside other key initiatives such as UKTV's diverse writers schemes and our UKTV All Voices initiative.
Ensuring that the evening of entertainment is enjoyed by comedy fans as well as industry insiders, the Rosie Jones's Disability Comedy Extravaganza will launch on streaming service UKTV Play as well as on the Dave YouTube channel, supporting Dave's ongoing mission to bring audiences the freshest fix of funny on all platforms. The showcase will feature Josh Pugh, Bethany Black, Jake Lambert, Don Biswas, Sarah Mills, Sam Serrano, Lara Ricote, Dan Tiernan, William Thompson and Will Robbins. Headliner, Pugh, is set to appear on Hypothetical S4 this Spring, as well as joining the cast of upcoming UKTV original scripted comedy, Sneakerhead, which will TX on Dave later this year.
Host Rosie Jones said,
I am so excited to be hosting another UKTV Disability Comedy Extravaganza, particularly now this one rightfully has my name in the title! As we proved with the last event, it's so important that TV doesn't overlook disabled comedians as we are a ridiculously funny bunch. It's so exciting that this time viewers will get to join in the fun and watch too!
The new commission follows the resounding success of the first UKTV Disabled Comedian's Showcase which took place in October 2021 for an industry audience. Talent from the first showcase included Chris McCausland, George Zach, Spring Day, Pete Selwood and Eshaan Akbar.
Rosie Jones's Disability Comedy Extravaganza is commissioned by Iain Coyle, UKTV head of comedy entertainment and ordered for UKTV Play by Andrea Amey, general manager, digital and for the Dave YouTube channel by Cherie Cunningham, Dave channel director. The showcase is produced by UKTV assistant producer Jennie Procter in partnership with Phil McIntyre Television.
Iain Coyle, head of comedy entertainment, UKTV said,
Diversity is rightly a priority for UKTV and Dave and I'm so proud to be involved with this initiative. There's a huge amount of disabled talent out there, criminally under used. We want to be at the forefront of introducing the industry, and viewers, to that talent and have a bloody good laugh while doing so.
Adele Fowler, Phil McIntyre Television said,
We're really proud to be working with UKTV and Rosie Jones again on another fantastic and diverse night of comedy and we're looking forward to seeing all the exciting comics perform.
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For further information please contact: Kerry Goode, Director of Communications, UKTV
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