ITV comedy show 'stole our name'

A group of teenage performers is furious with TV producers who unwittingly stole the name of their show,

The youngsters, from Market Harborough, are planning a small tour of theatres with their sketch show Gagging For It to raise money for Comic Relief.

But they were shocked to read on Chortle that ITV2 is to air a comedy programme with the same title.

"It seems weird they used the same title after we've been advertising our show on local radio," said Lisa Parratt, who is performing the show with three friends.

"The only thing we can think to do now is prove that we copyrighted the name first."

The group, who are aged 16 to 20, will perform their first show at the Market Harborough Theatre on October 11.

But that's a month after ITV2 airs its programme, so the performers are worried people will think they stole the name from the broadcasters.

Lisa's mum called on programme-makers LWT to change their title.

She said: "We feel very cheated that someone has poached their name. My daughter has been in tears with frustration."

A spokesman for LWT owners Granada said they had been using the title since before September 2001, when they first pitched the idea to the network.

"It's purely coincidental," he added.

Published: 6 Aug 2002