Funny Parts feature exclusive commissions and classic clips

BBC Studios has launched a new digital comedy channel with three brand-new commissions.

Funny Parts is a commercial operation from the BBC’s production arm, which will mix new short-form comedy and entertainment with clips from its programme such as This Country, Famalam and The Young Offenders.

The channel is live on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter now, with the first episodes of the new commissions Hack Attack, Little Rants and Sound Off.

Ten instalments of each title will eventually be available with new episodes dropping daily. BBC Studios also plan new commissions for future release.

The new programmes are:

Sound Off: A show that celebrates the new superstars of silent comedy. Bash the Entertainer and Elf Lyons try to outdo each other and make each other laugh without making a sound. Comedian Tadiwa Mahlunge oversees the competition and provides wry commentary.

Hack Attack: A new ten-part game show, pictured, where celebrity guests have to answer fiendish questions set by a mysterious hacker or risk having their secrets released from their personal devices – if they fail, their cringey photos, dating app chat and online purchase history is revealed.

Little Rants: In which ten celebrities get something off their chest that’s really been bugging them – whether that’s reaching the age where it’s no longer acceptable to to wear Disney princess dresses or the madness of delivery services.

Both the latter two formats feature the same list of guest stars: Comedians Helen Bauer, Mary O’Connell and Ali Woods; social media impressionist Scheiffer Bates; Radio 1Xtra’s Snoochie Shy; actor Donna Preston; podcaster Poppy Jay; reality star Pete Wicks; drag queens Lawrence Chaney and Tia Kofi.

Athena Witter, vice president of programming at BBC Studios’ digital consumer engagement division, says: ‘Funny Parts offers both a home for our new digital-first comedy and entertainment content and also allows us to tap into a fantastic wealth of recent comedy content made for Gen-Z audiences.

‘These three new commissions are a great example of our approach to developing, testing and delivering new shows direct to audiences’

Chris Allen, head of development, added: ‘This is an opportunity for us to showcase new talent and rising stars, to encourage innovation and is really what our digital-first strategy is all about. We can’t wait to share these funny and fresh new shows and to keep dropping new content that brings people back to the channel.’

The new commissions add to recently announced short-form content from BBC Studios and Baby Cow Productions. Two original comedy series, The Train and What’s Happening? were released on Baby Cow’s social media channels.

Published: 1 Dec 2022