Dara's maths show amounts to a second series

The commission for the Dave channel was announced at a UKTV Showcase event in London today.

Based on Japanese format Comaneci University Mathematics, the original eight-part series involved O Briain, comedian guests and academics solving maths problems.

UKTV’s chief executive Darren Childs said the initial series had been a gamble which had paid off.

He said: ‘It was risky combining comedy and maths, but it was a a phenomenal show. I thought it was fantastic, and it’s coming back for season two next year.’

When it launched in April this year, the show attracted 400,00 viewers on first viewing - –more than double Dave’s usual audience figures.

O Briain studied maths and theoretical physics at University College, Dublin, before turning to comedy. In series one, made by Belfast-based Wild Rover and Japanese originators Fujisankei Productions, O Briain's guests included Jason Byrne, Alex Horne and David O’Doherty.

At today’s event, Dave also confirmed the return of Alexander Armstrong’s Big Ask.

Childs said he was ‘very happy with the show’, saying it was a ‘unique format’ for the panel show – with the comedian guests asking the questions as well as answering them.

The fourth series of Dave's One Night Stand, as previously reported by Chortle, was also confirmed.

Published: 11 Sep 2012