...As a US series, backed by Trevor Noah

Mock The Week is coming back – but in the US.

Amazon’s Freevee has commissioned an American version of the long-running panel show, which will begin filming in early 2024.

The series will be executive produced by Trevor Noah along with the format’s co-creator, Dan Patterson.

Noah, below, said: ‘The two things I’m most passionate about in life are paying my landlord and making people laugh.  We could all use a little more laughter as we continue to navigate today’s crazy world.  By bringing Mock the Week to America with the talented Dan Patterson, I’m looking forward to doing just that.’

Patterson added:  ‘After 21 successful seasons on the BBC, we can’t wait to bring the format to the US and work with America’s deep pool of brilliant comedians.'

The BBC version ended last autumn after 17 years.  At the time its cancellation was announced, host Dara O Briain said: 'That’s it folks, the UK has finally run out of news. The storylines were getting crazier and crazier – global pandemics, divorce from Europe, novelty short-term prime ministers. It couldn’t go on.

‘And so, regretfully, we are closing the doors on Dara and Hugh’s Academy for Baby Comedians. We just couldn’t be more silly than the news was already.’

A spokesperson for Angst Productions, the company behind the format said: ‘America is famous for its incredible comedians, hilarious news stories and brilliant television shows and we can’t wait to be able to… oh and hot dogs, they’re famous for hot dogs as well.’

Angst also makes the long-running improv format Whose Line is it Anyway? which has just begun its tenth year on the CW. The same network is also currently airing the first series of Angst’s comedy panel show The Great American Joke Off, which also features a number of British comedians, including Ed Gamble, Tom Allen, Milton Jones, Glenn Moore, and Rhys James.

Patterson created Mock the Week with Mark Leveson. It ran for  234 episodes over 21 series on BBC Two.

Amazon’s ad-supported Freevee service is also available in the UK.

Published: 2 May 2023