Christmas special with under-represented stand-ups

Lost Voice Guy is to host an ITV stand-up showcase featuring comedians from under-represented groups.

The line-up has not yet been revealed but  executive producer Celia Taylor told  trade website Broadcast: ‘It’s important that underrepresented voices and new voices don’t just mean young voices – there are many people out there who have been trying for years and haven’t had a break.’

Lost Voice Guy’s Christmas Comedy Showcase will be recorded in MediaCity, Salford, on November 24 and free audience tickets are available here,

The show is being made by Distant Voices Group, a new production company set up by Desmond’s creator Trix Worrell, and will air in December.

Originally from County Durham, Lost Voice Guy, real name Lee Ridley, won the BBC New Comedy Award in 2014, and won the 12th series of Britain's Got Talent in 2018. He has starred in his own Radio 4 sitcom Ability, which he co-wrote with  Katherine Jakeways, and recently published his memoirs, I’m Only In It for the Parking.

At the age of six months he was diagnosed with a neurological form of cerebral palsy, brought about by a brain infection, which affected his movement and rendered him unable to speak. He now uses an iPad voice synthesiser app called Speak It! to communicate.

News of the commission was confirmed as ITV revealed its winter schedule, which also includes Billy Connolly: My Absolute Pleasure, in which the Big Yin will share more reminiscences. It is a follow-up to last Christmas's It’s Been A Pleasure, which was filmed in his Florida Keys home and featured the comic looking back at his 50-year career.

ITV also confirmed some news Chortle previously reported, including the fact that John Bishop will be hosting his own Saturday night entertainment show, featuring stand-ups from around the world

And Lee Mack will host new primetime quiz The 1% Club in which contestants have to answer a series of ever more difficult logic and common-sense teasers. To win the £100,000 jackpot they have to  correctly answer a question only 1 per cent of the country would get right.

He said: ‘If, like me, your lack of general knowledge frustrates you when doing quizzes, then watch the 1% Club. That way, like me, you can instead be frustrated by your lack of logic.

‘Great contestants, loads of cash to win, and guaranteed "I can’t believe you couldn’t work that one out Dad!’"moments to cause family disputes. I love it!

Meanwhile, Jason Manford has been confirmed as one of the judges of Starstruck – a Stars-In-Their-Eyes style format in which  members of the public transform into and sing as their musical idols and perform against each other.

Other judges are Beverley Knight, Sheridan Smith and Adam Lambert, while Olly Murs hosts

Broadcast dates are yet to be confirmed. 

Published: 9 Nov 2021