...including a new series of The Last Leg

Adam Hills has signed an exclusive year-long deal to develop ideas with Channel 4.

The contract includes a new series of The Last Leg, the late night show that ran daily during Channel 4's Paralympics coverage.

Fellow comic Josh Widdecombe and sports reported Alex Brooker will return for the new season, which will air in 2013 following a Christmas special.

Entertainment commissioning editor Syeda Irtizaali said: ‘We knew The Last Leg was something special and we were in no doubt we wanted to keep the show's spirit of open and frank debate alive.

‘We are working on a number of great ideas that will help push the show forward from its paralympic origins into a broad, intelligent and entertaining series. I'm hugely looking forward to working again with Adam, Alex and Josh.'

Hills said: ‘The Paralympics is one of my favourite events in the world. When Channel 4 offered me the chance to cover it with The Last Leg, I jumped at it. It's not often you get the chance to do something you absolutely love, that people seem to connect with.

‘I thought The Last Leg was going to be an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm over the moon to think that we can do it all again. ‘

Under the deal, Channel 4 will also be showing a stand-up special of Hills live in concert recorded at the Lyric Theatre in London's West End.

Hills is a TV star in his native Australia, where he hosted the music panel show Spicks and Specks, and his own chat show In Gordon Street Tonight.

The last comic to sign a similar exclusive deal with Channel 4 was Micky Flanagan, who has piloted several shows although none have yet come to fruition. However he was a team camptain on the advertising-based panel show The Mad Bad Ad Show.

Published: 18 Oct 2012