Jack Dee to host brand new entertainment show DON’T SIT IN THE FRONT ROW

Monday 16 April 2012

Jack Dee to host brand new entertainment show DON’T SIT IN THE FRONT ROW

·         16 x 30 entertainment series exclusively for Sky Atlantic HD

·         Available on a range of mobile and PC devices with Sky Go

As part of SKY’s investment in home grown content, Sky Atlantic HD announces DON’T SIT IN THE FRONT ROW, a brand new entertainment show, exclusively for its autumn schedule.  Created by two former producers of Have I Got News For You and presented by the master of dead pan, JACK DEE. DEE will be joined by a host of Britain’s other top comedians to create a refreshing new format with no teams, no quiz and a winner from the studio audience.

DON’T SIT IN THE FRONT ROW will see five members of the public volunteer to sit in the Front Row, with their lives providing the raw material for the comics. The twist is while DEE knows everything about the Front Rowers the panel knows nothing, creating the perfect opportunity to probe into their life stories in search of laughs.

The premise of the show is simple – the more comedy material the Front Rowers provide the stand-ups, the longer they’ll last. As the panellists get to know more about the contestants, they will then have to decide who to eliminate at the end of each round. The last Front Rower standing will be crowned with the ultimate prize of a much coveted DON’T SIT IN THE FRONT ROW ‘Golden Chair Award’.

Sky Commissioning Editor, Entertainment, Antonia Hurford-Jones said: “The spontaneity of the audience interaction is what makes DON’T SIT IN THE FRONT ROW so exciting. The combination of our presenter Jack Dee, the other comics, plus members of the public is recipe for a great new show.

Acting Channel Director of Sky Atlantic HD, Naomi Gibney comments: “I’m really excited that JACK DEE has joined the comedic tour de force coming to Sky Atlantic HD this summer which also includes Kathy Burke, Russell Brand, Julia Davis, Armando Iannucci, Adam Buxton, and Ronna and Beverly. To now add Jack to this incredible line-up continues to strengthen Sky Atlantic’s comedy ambitions.” 

Giles Pilbrow, Executive Producer for Citrus Television said: “The comics are shooting from the hip – and you can tell they are. There’s a certain joy about genuine spontaneity which can’t be faked. DON’T SIT IN THE FRONT ROW is a great vehicle for emerging talent as well as established comedians.”

DON’T SIT IN THE FRONT ROW is a Citrus Television production exclusively for Sky Atlantic HD. The series is Executive Produced by Giles Pilbrow and Caroline Norris. The producer is Mark Barrett, and the Director Dominic Brigstocke. DON’T SIT IN THE FRONT ROW was commissioned by Antonia Hurford-Jones. The series will exclusively air on Sky Atlantic HD, in Autumn 2012. It will also be available on the move with Sky Go.

DON’T SIT IN THE FRONT ROW is part of Sky's commitment to increase its investment in original British content by 50% over the next three years. By 2014, Sky expects to invest £600 million a year in British programmes across its portfolio of channels.  The commission of DON’T SIT IN THE FRONT ROW together with HUNDERBY (Julia Davis); and WALKING AND TALKING (Kathy Burke) and the acquisition of STRANGELY UPLIFTING and VEEP (Armando Iannucci) continues to build Sky Atlantic’s comedy momentum in 2012.

Notes to editor

For more information contact:

Luke Morrison                                                                      

Senior Publicist, Sky Atlantic HD                    

T: +44 (0)20 7032 1479, M: +44 (0)7584 580 026                                                                 

luke.morrison@bskyb.com    

Notes to Editors:

About Sky

Sky entertains and excites more than 10.4 million homes through the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland. Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky 1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Living pushes ahead with fresh and innovative entertainment formats; Sky Arts is the UK's only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Atlantic is the home to HBO and other iconic drama and comedy, Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; Sky News remains a pioneer in television news; and Sky Movies is leading the way in High Definition and on-demand.

 

Sky also works with dozens of other broadcasters on the satellite platform, as well as online and on mobile through the ground-breaking Sky Go service.  Sky has also led the UK into the age of high definition television, launched Europe's first 3DTV channel, Sky 3D, and offers customer even more flexibility and choice through Sky Anytime+, its internet-delivered video on demand service.   Since launching Sky Broadband and Sky Talk in 2006, the company has also been the UK's fastest-growing home communications provider.

 

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates, not least by increasing participation in, and access to, the arts, supporting grassroots sports, and taking positive action on the environment.


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