The BBC has announced that the upcoming episodes of Mock the Week - beginning this autumn - are to be the show’s last as the satirical series ends its time on BBC Two after 17 years, 21 series and 235 episodes.
Sometimes surprising, occasionally controversial but always funny, Mock the Week’s unique combination of topical discussion, stand up segments and performance rounds has provided an ideal showcase for multiple generations of top comic talent and, fronted throughout by the comedy genius of Dara O’Briain, has grown into a much-loved institution.
Since it began in June 2005, the series has covered six England football managers, soon to be six Prime Ministers, four US presidents (and four BBC director generals). It has lived through four World Cups, four Olympic Games, five UK elections and booked more than 130 different comedians.
“We’re naturally hugely disappointed that Mock the Week is coming to an end and hope that we will be able to resurface somewhere some day in the future” said one of the show’s producers at Angst Productions, the company behind the programme. “However, the last seventeen years on BBC Two have been an absolute blast, it’s been a great privilege to work closely with scores of truly incredible performers and we’d also like to take the opportunity to thank the BBC and all our many fans around the world for their support over the years.”
Host Dara O’Briain added: "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. Huge thanks to all our guests over the years, so many of whom went on to huge successes of their own, and never write or call. It was a joy!"
The BBC says: “The next series of Mock the Week will be the last, we are really proud of the show but after 21 series we have taken the difficult decision in order to create room for new shows. We would like to thank Angst Productions, host Dara O’Briain, panellist Hugh Dennis and all the guest comedians involved in the show across the 21 series.”
The final eight episodes of Mock the Week will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer this autumn.
