New shows for 2016

Michael McIntyre has gone into business with the makers of Dapper Laughs On The Pull.

The comic has joined forces with production company Hungry Bear Media, which co-produced the controversial ITV2 series, to form a new company called Hungry McBear.

It will make all McIntyre’s future TV work, including his forthcoming BBC One variety showcase Easter Night At The Coliseum, which will feature Eddie Izzard and Bill Bailey as guests.

Trade magazine Broadcast also reports that the new company will make two series for BBC One next year, although the format is yet to be decided. That commission means The Michael McIntyre Chat Show will not return, despite a second series being ordered last year.

Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones is a major shareholder of Hungry Bear , which is run by Juliet Denison and Dan Baldwin, who is married to ITV star Holly Willoughby.

Baldwin conceded that they got the Dapper Laughs series ‘wrong’ and told Broadcast: ‘I have learnt that you can’t just take someone who’s had success online and put them on telly and think they can cope.’

Published: 19 Mar 2015