From comedian Kieran Hodgson

Comedian Kieran Hodgson is to star in a satirical musical about Prince Andrew for Channel 4.

The comedian, who stars in BBC Two sitcom Two Doors Down, will play the disgraced Duke Of York in the 60-minute programme.

He also wrote the show, which will feature  original music by Freddie Tapner, who has previously worked on Nick Mohammed’s Mr Swallow shows about Dracula and Houdini.

Made by Have I Got News For You producers Hat Trick, the musical promises to explore the ‘key events, relationships, and controversies of Andrew’s life’.

And that will include a ‘reimagining’ of his 2019 car crash Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, which is also the subject of two other forthcoming TV dramas.

The musical is one of a number of provocative commissions announced by Channel 4 today, including a Frankie Boyle film about the Monarchy, the return of Friday Night Live and a programme about ‘cancel culture’ with Jimmy Carr.

The broadcaster’s chief content officer Ian Katz said: ‘This season shows that Channel 4 is still as mischievous, disruptive and distinctive as when it was born 40 years ago.

‘Instead of a nostalgia-thon of highlights from the last four decades, we are celebrating with a collection of irreverent, thought-provoking and hugely entertaining shows that no other broadcaster would air. If we must age, we plan to do it disgracefully.’

Published: 22 Aug 2022