14-part entertainment show for 2017

Russell Howard has signed a two-year deal to write and star in a new entertainment series for Sky 1.

Details remain sparse, but a not-for-broadcast pilot is to be completed in the next couple of weeks, ahead of a planned launch next year.

The 14-part weekly series  is set to air after his Round The World stand-up tour ends in the summer.

Howard said: ‘I am delighted to be making this new show for Sky. It’s obviously the best part of a year away but I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in."’

And Adam MacDonald, director of Sky 1, said: ‘Russell is brilliantly funny and I can't wait for his intelligent and incisive wit to be a big part of Sky 1. His new show with us will be a fantastic mix of everything we love about Russell and lots of new inventive comedy.’

Howard is currently one of the main faces of Comedy Central, thanks to his Stand-Up Central show, the travelogue Russell Howard & Mum: USA Road Trip and previous reruns of Russell Howard's Good News and his stand-up specials.

The new Sky show will be filmed in front of a live studio audience and will be produced by Avalon Television. Joint managing director Jon Thoday  said: ‘We are excited to be working on a new show with Russell and delighted by Sky’s ambition for it.’

Published: 29 Nov 2016