March 2011 / News Archive Home

30/03/2011 - Matt Lucas talks 'Come Fly With Me' plus 'And The Winner Is...'

Matt Lucas appeared on BBC Radio 2's Steve Wright Show yesterday. Matt tells us what it takes to get just one episode of Come Fly With Me onto our screens: It takes 3-4 weeks writing one episode, 2-3 weeks in the rehearsal room, then you improvise, re-write scripts, and of course you have the casting, hire the crew, someone has to find the right location, and the most important job of all, finding the caterers. Filming is very tricky, as you are filming in a public place, and you have people standing right next to the camera with their own camera phones and there are a lot of distractions when working in a real airport. The shoot took 7 weeks for one episode. The next series has been confirmed, but will not be this year as Matt and David are having a bit of a break - it will be March 2012 onwards.

Matt's Radio 2 show, 'And The Winner Is...' (which he has been recording during February at the BBC Broadcasting House), will air from this Saturday night at 10pm on BBC Radio 2 with guest Harry Enfield. Each episode has a special guest, and over the weeks, this includes Lee Mack, Rory Bremner, Dave Gorman, Jason Manford, Kevin Bridges and Tim Rice-Oxley, who was on the panel whilst I attended, and managed to get this sneaky photo...!

In other news this week, David Walliams and Olly Murs will be partnered with their mum's for a Mother's Day special of 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?', whilst EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer will be partnered by her oldest son, Charley, in the special charity edition to screen on ITV1 this Saturday, April 2 at 8.25pm.

29/03/2011 - Little Britain to face the axe?

Little Britain could be axed for good, according to The Sun, after star Matt Lucas once admitted even he was fed up of seeing himself in it. He said: "If I am flicking through the channels and a repeat of Little Britain is on BBC3, I flick right on. I watch the shows in edits, but I would never watch myself on TV."

However, according to ITV1's Daybreak, both Matt and David would like to see Little Britain back on our screens.

Matt Lucas after a lead Eastenders role?

Matt Lucas has claimed that he'd love to be cast as the younger Mitchell brother in EastEnders. The Come Fly With Me star thinks he'd only need a bit of voice training to pull off being Phil and Grant's little brother. He told the Radio Times: "I'd love to play the youngest Mitchell brother in EastEnders, but I would have to learn how to talk really quietly and menacingly." He went on: "Failing that, Pat Butcher's long-lost sister Nat, who would obviously also have a penchant for bleached hair, big earrings and leopard print." But the actor would have to stop watching EastEnders if he ever was cast, as he revealed he can't stand seeing himself on screen. "If I am flicking through the channels and a repeat of Little Britain is on BBC Three, I flick right on," he said. Source.

22/03/2011 - David Walliams to host Sky1 panel show

Little Britain and Come Fly With Me star David Walliams is to host a trial of a new panel show for Sky1.

David Walliams' Wall Of Fame is described as "Sky1's new gossipy, newsy comedy panel show about the most famous people in Britain this week." The format, which will undergo a non-broadcast pilot at the end of the month, will feature a 'Wall of Fame'. This is a very large video screen featuring "the beaming faces of this week's biggest celebs, politicians, sports people, movie stars and surprising news stars." Two teams, each comprising of three stars from the worlds of comedy, news and celebrity, will battle it out over a series of rounds linked to the video screen.

The pilot episode of David Walliams' Wall Of Fame will be recorded at Teddington Studios on Wednesday 30th March 2011. Sky1 is currently in the process of investing more money into comedy programming and thus is trying out a number of new formats in an attempt to find another panel show to match the success of A League Of Their Own, its sports-based format hosted by James Corden.

18/03/2011 - Take That meet Fake That

Groups know they have achieved legendary status when they have a tribute band named after them. But the members of Take That could be forgiven for being unconvinced that their latest tribute band has entirely honourable reasons for aping them. Comedians Alan Carr, James Corden, David Walliams and John Bishop have teamed up to create spoof band Fake That for Comic Relief. Hopefully bandmember Jason Orange will see the funny side when he sees that he is being played by the only woman in the pack - comedienne Catherine Tate.

The unlikely successors to the crown of the biggest band in Britain will be unveiled on tonight's Comic Relief telethon. The new five-piece will try to impress the real members of Take That - Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Orange - on an audition-style judging panel. Using a variety of costume changes and challenging dance moves, the members of Fake That will try to wow the judges.

15/03/2011 - David Walliams' Wall of Fame

David Walliams has landed his own panel show after completing a 24 hour panel show marathon for Comic Relief. The Little Britain star hosted a non-stop 24 hour show which saw him present multiple panel show formats including Have I Got News For You, Celebrity Juice, They Think It's All Over, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Just A Minute and many more.

Following the success of the show, Walliams has landed a new celebrity news panel show on Sky 1. "Wall of Fame" will see two panels of three stars from the worlds of comedy, news and celebrity answering questions fired at them by David and the Wall of Fame itself - a state of the art video screen.

A pilot for the show will be filmed at the end of this month and the show is likely to broadcast as a full series in the spring. Sky1 are hoping it can be as big as ITV2's "Celebrity Juice". Be in the audience...

13/03/2011 - 24 Hour Panel People: The Highlights

Join David Walliams every night this week on BBC Three for '24 Hour Panel People', in aid of Comic Relief. Alternatively, you can catch the highlights on BBC iPlayer straight after broadcast.

Episode 1 - Sun 13th March 2011 at 10pm: Would I Lie To You?, 8 out of 10 Cats and Just A Minute.

Episode 2 - Mon 14th March 2011 at 10.30pm: Old skool shows Blankety Blank, The Generation Game and Through The Keyhole feature in this edition.

Episode 3 - Tue 15th March 2011 at 10.30pm: Mock the Week, Celebrity Juice and Argumental.

Episode 4 - Wed 16th March 2011 at 10pm: QI, They Think It's All Over, Call My Bluff and Give Us A Clue.

Episode 5 - Thu 17th March 2011 at 10.30pm: Mastermind, Have I Got New For You and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

A special hour long highlights show will be on BBC1 on Friday 25th March at 10.35pm.

10/03/2011 - 24 Hour Panel People highlights to be shown from this weekend

BBC Three are to broadcast highlights from David Walliams' 24 Hour Panel People in aid of Comic Relief. The marathon show sees a huge stack of celebrity guests joining David Walliams as he anchors one iconic panel show after another for a full 24 hours, non stop.

In this five part series, BBC Three presents the highlights from this epic comedy event, following David as he switches between the roles of host, team captain and panellist, along with some other surprising challenges. The marathon 24-hour challenge celebrates some of the most famous and best loved panel shows from TV and radio.

Joining David across the 24 hours are David Tennant, Jack Dee, Stephen Fry and Miranda Hart to name a few. Each programme will feature a rounds from current panel shows and popular classics, including Have I Got News for You, Just a Minute, Mastermind, Never Mind the Buzzcocks - and for one night only the return of favourites Blankety Blank, Whose Line Is It Anyway and The Generation Game.

The first of the five episodes will be shown this Sunday on BBC Three at 10pm. Full episode guide...

09/03/2011 - Walliams' upcoming Doctor Who role

Toby Whithouse is amongst the writers for series six of Doctor Who and some details about his episode have been revealed... The episode is the 11th in the forthcoming six season but was originally intended to be 10th but has been swapped with Tom MacRae's story. In fact originally the story was pencilled in for Matt Smith's first season but was replaced by Vampires of Venice instead. The latest issue of the Doctor Who Magazine has revealed a few details about the plot for Whithouse' episode.

The episode is titled 'The God Complex' and will feature the Doctor and Amy trapped in a Hotel where the geography keeps shifting. The God Complex will guest-star David Walliams. The actor is a self-confessed Doctor Who fan and will be playing the character 'Gibbis'. Check out the photo... The episode is being directed by Nick Hurran.

The first episode will be on our screens on Saturday 23rd April 2011. David Walliams' appearance will not be until Autumn as this series will be split into two parts, and David's appearance is within the second part.

06/03/2011 - David Walliams completes 24 hour live broadcast

David Walliams has finished the UK's first live 24-hour panel show, in aid of Comic Relief. Walliams was joined by several celebrity guests during the online streamed show, including David Tennant, Barbara Windsor and Stephen Fry.

24 Hour Panel People saw Walliams participate in some of TV's most iconic panel shows. "It was tough, yes, but it was the right side of tough," the 39-year-old Little Britain star said. Speaking afterwards, he added: "It does take its toll on you physically with things like your eyes not being able to focus so well anymore on the autocue.

"It was tough, yes, but it was the right side of tough. I mean if I was slumped on the desk not saying anything I think it really wouldn't have been very entertaining but you could see I was a little bit delirious towards the end." The comic said the first thing he was going to do was have a shower as he had not had time to wash during his brief five minute breaks. Full story...

05/03/2011 - Walliams' 24hr Panel People, kicks off at midday today!

Game show fans everywhere are getting ready to log on to the UK’s first-ever live, online streamed, 24-hour panel show which kicks off at midday today – and it’s all in aid of Comic Relief. The marathon show sees a huge stack of celebrity guests joining comedian David Walliams as he anchors one iconic panel show after another for a full 24 hours, non stop.

Classic shows making a comeback for the epic contest include the BBC’s first ever panel show What’s My Line as well family favourite The Generation Game with David and his mum battling it out against comedian Miranda Hart and her on screen mother, actress Patricia Hodge, with Vernon Kay as host.

Other golden oldies include Blankety Blank, Through The Keyhole, They Think It’s All Over, Room 101, Call My Bluff, Give Us A Clue and Whose Line Is It Anyway.

Current favourites that will feature include Have I Got News For You, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Celebrity Juice, Mock The Week, QI, Mastermind, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Just A Minute and Would I Lie To You with David Mitchell, Lee Mack, Fay Ripley and Claudia Winkleman joining David as they try to bluff about their deepest darkest secrets.

The long line up of stars involved in the massive show include David Tennant, Jack Dee, Stephen Fry, Jason Manford, Dara O’Briain, Paul O’Grady, Sue Perkins, Jo Brand, Jimmy Carr, Sir David Frost, Barbara Windsor and Charlie Brooker. They’ll be on hand to make sure David Walliams stays awake to see the entire show through – and it’s guaranteed there’ll be a lot of laughs along the way.

So don’t forget to watch it live at bbc.co.uk/rednoseday from midday on Saturday 5th March until midday on Sunday 6th March and be part of this ground breaking, epic comedy event.

01/03/2011 - Come Fly With Me sold to broadcasters in eight countries

BBC Worldwide has announced that Matt Lucas and David Walliams's comedy Come Fly With Me has been sold to broadcasters in eight countries. At the BBC Showcase programming sales event in Brighton, the BBC's commercial arm confirmed sales of Come Fly With Me in Finland (YLE), Holland (NPO), Australia (Channel Nine), New Zealand (TV3), Iceland (TV2), Israel (YES), Spain (Canal+) and Sweden (TV4).

The latter three territories were all pre-sales, in which the broadcaster buys the programme without seeing it first. Little Britain, Lucas and Walliams's last BBC sketch show, went on to be sold in more than 130 countries worldwide.

And the 24 Hour Panel People are...

Watch David Walliams undertake his mammoth Comic Relief panel show marathon as it happens via the Red Nose Day website on Saturday 5th March. Which famous funny people will be helping the Little Britain and Come Fly With Me star keep his stiff upper lipper up erect during 24 Hour Panel People? Well, for starters there's pro-funny people Jack Dee, Stephen Fry, Miranda Hart, Jason Manford, David Mitchell, Dara O’Briain, Paul O’Grady, Sue Perkins, Jo Brand, Jimmy Carr, Lee Mack, Charlie Brooker and Jedward will all be doing their bit to help out. Who wouldn't want Jedward's assistance on an endurance test? Will a delirious David just think he's hallucinating them? More info...