Next series to launch on BBC Two

Live At The Apollo is to lose its prime BBC One slot and be shifted to BBC Two.

The move comes as BBC Two looks to strengthen its comedy offering, with channel controller Kim Shillinglaw predicting the stand-up showcase will be 'even naughtier and noisier' on her channel.

BBC entertainment commissioning editor Ed Sleeman made the same point, saying the move would make the show 'edgier than ever before'.

Its 11th series will launch in a 10pm slot next month, with six episodes hosted by Alan Carr, Dara O Brian, Noel Fielding, Romesh Ranganathan, Katherine Ryan and Russell Kane.

There will also be a Christmas special in December, hosted by comedienne and ventriloquist Nina Conti.

The 10th series, which launched last November, achieved an average a consolidated audience of 2.1million viewers in a slot after the Ten O'Clock News. That's less than half the numbers it was achieving at its peak when it aired before the news.

Live at the Apollo is made by Open Mic Productions, the TV arm of agency giants Off The Kerb, and executive produced by Andrew Beint.

BBC Two also today finally confirmed the third series of Inside No 9, more than 24 hours after Reece Shearsmith revealed he and co-creator Steve Pemberton had written the series.

Shillinglaw said: 'BBC Two should be the place where creatives can do their best, most signature work and I'm delighted that Steve and Reece are returning with another series of Inside No 9; their deliciously dark, grown up humour is just what I want to see on the channel.'

Published: 21 Oct 2015