Comedy

New series from comedian Mae Martin heads to Channel 4

(credit: Channel 4)

The six-part series, co-written with Joe Hampson, is a semi-autobiographical comedy following a recovering addict and comedian called Mae.

As Mae attempts to get her addictive impulses under control, an all-consuming relationship with her new girlfriend George, played by Charlotte Ritchie (Fresh Meat), throws life into further complication.

The series was conceived off the back of one of Martin’s stand-up routines about addictive behaviour, and explores concepts of gender fluidity and queer romance.

New comedy series Run heads to Sky Comedy this spring

(credit: HBO/Sky)

Written and produced by Vicky Jones (Fleabag), Run follows Merritt Wever (Unbelievable) as Ruby Richardson, a woman living a mundane life in the suburbs who drops everything upon receiving a text to fulfil a pact made with her ex-boyfriend seventeen years earlier.

Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machina) plays Billy Johnson, Ruby’s college boyfriend with whom she made the pact that if he texts her the word “run” and she replies with the same, the pair will leave their old lives behind and meet in Grand Central Station to travel across America together.

Brassic co-creators discuss how Joe Gilgun turned his colourful past into a hit TV show

Brassic, a tale of Lancashire lads on the scam, is a madcap comedy with a sensitive side. The Guardian called it “a hilarious, warm, brutal melange”.

But it is not, as Gilgun was at pains to point out at a packed event, miserable: “Any show that represents the working classes is fucking miserable. Some of the happiest people I know are working class; some of the smartest lads I know are working class.”

Dave commissions second series of comedy Sliced

(credit: UKTV)

The series, co-written by Phil Bowker and Samson Kayo (Timewasters), will be extended to six episodes.

Sliced follows the hilarious, unlikely encounters of Joshua (Kayo) and Ricky (Theo Barklem Biggs), two mischievous pizza delivery drivers in south London.

Kayo commented: “We go again! I’m so excited to be back on Dave with series two. Last series was just a taster, now it’s go time!

“I’m looking forward to creating some more explosively funny and authentic stories with this amazingly talented team."

ITV announces upcoming comedy Kate and Koji

(credit: ITV)

The six-part series will star Golden Globe winner Brenda Blethyn (Vera) as Kate, who owns a café in a rundown seaside town. Kate forms an unlikely and at times volatile friendship with an African asylum seeker, a doctor called Koji, played by Jimmy Akingbola (Arrow).

While the pair come from very different worlds, they find that they have a lot in common, including a furious determination to never back down from an argument…

Taskmaster: Top ten tasks

Greg Davies and Alex Horne (Credit: UKTV)

Created and written by comedian Alex Horne, the series stars Greg Davies as the Taskmasterwith Horne acting as Davies’ assistant and umpire during the tasks.

Each series, five contestants compete each week to score the highest mark on the bizarre tasks set by the Taskmaster.

Taskmaster originally aired on Dave, but will make the move to Channel 4 in 2020 following a new six series deal. 

With over 200 tasks to date so far, here is a roundup of some of our favourites.