One-off for Channel 4

Noel Fielding’s programme about Japanese gameshows is to be a one-off hour-long special, Channel 4 has announced.

The show, which has the working title Only In Japan, is being taped at MediaCity in Salford on Sunday. 

In the show, the Boosh star will take a look at popular culture in Japan and, in particular, gameshows  to ask: ‘Could any of them take off over here?’

A Channel 4 spokesman said: ‘Japanese pop culture is one of the most distinct modern day cultures in the world. Noel will explore the news, adverts, products and inventions from the land of the rising sun – from the slightly unusual to the downright bizarre.

‘Once he has got a feel for this remarkable society Noel will challenge two teams of famous faces to compete in rounds from often peculiar but always fun Japanese gameshows, all in a bid to win the honour of becoming champions. Will these Japanese games take off here or will they get lost in translation?’

The programme, which Chortle first reported last week, is produced by Rumpus Media with Tamsin Dodgson, Ian Wimbush and Emily Hudd as executive producers. The commissioner for Channel 4 Entertainment is Sarah Lazenby.
 

Published: 31 May 2016