New comics in TV first

New stand-ups are taking part in what’s being billed as TV’s first live comedy panel show from tonight.

You Can't Say That will be hosted by Brett Morton, who was half the double act Bullett & Gunn, while his partner Matthew Alford is a panelist in the first episode. Other guests include new comedy performers Mel Moon and Dharmander Singh, and Andy Nunn, the keyboard player from Morcheeba.

Games include Twisted Morality, in which contestants justify the actions of disgraced figures in the news, and Give Us a Clue Who You Are - You, where they guess the identity of famous people from a series of cryptic insults. 

The show goes out on Red TV, which is way down the Sky channel guide at number 186, and reaches just 13,000 viewers a day.

But Morton sees this is an advantage: ‘Because it's not on a mainstream channel, we can get away with walking the tightrope of taste and decency a little more,’ he said.

However, the comedians won’t exactly have the freedom to be too offensive, as the show airs at 8pm, and must still abide by the pre-watershed standards.

Morton added: ‘Our show is live to air so if anyone makes a mistake or says something controversial it can't be edited out. It will hold the same fascination as watching a car crash, or at least a very entertaining slow puncture.’

Published: 24 Jun 2008