ITV puts live comedies to the vote

ITV is to air live sitcoms in a new Pop Idol-style show.

Viewers will vote on their favourite new comedy ideas when The Sitcom Trials launches in February.

The show has been commissioned only for the West region of ITV1, but if it is a success there are hopes that it could be extended to the whole network.

Each week, actors will perform the first halves of two scripts live from studios in Bristol. The audience will then vote on which one they would like to see the ending of.

ITV has commissioned eight shows, to go out at 11.30pm on Friday nights from February 21.

The programme has been developed from live shows in London and the Edinburgh festival over the past couple of years.

At the 2002 fringe, reviews were decidedly mixed - from "pant-wettingly funny" to "I would have happily voted to have my own eyes gouged out with hot spoons rather than endure another moment".

The TV show will also invite viewers to suggest their own sitcom formats for the chance of winning a prize.

Producer Kevin F Sutherland, right, is also on the look-out for scripts 'especially from Bristol and West-based writers, but essentially from anyone'. Visit sitcomtrials.co.uk for details.

The show is warming up for the broadcasts with a run of three Friday-night performances at London's Comedy Pub, from January 10.

Published: 29 Dec 2002