Celebrity panellists include Miranda Hart, Paul Hollywood, Kathy Burke, Olivia Colman and Sir Terry Wogan

Are shrimps really fitter than the average human? Can a human scale walls using household vacuums? And do duck quacks indeed echo? Lee Mack is on hand to answer these important questions – and more – in his brand new show which starts on Sky 1 HD on Friday 7th February at 10pm. The first episode will also be available to preview via Sky Go and NOW TV from 10pm on Friday 31st January.  

In each episode of DUCK QUACKS DON’T ECHO, three celebrities will bring a fascinating fact to the table – and with the help of our in house boffins, attempt to prove to their fellow panellists – and the nation – whether or not it’s true. No stone will be left unturned in pursuit of the truth, be it super gluing Melanie C to a ceiling upside down, baking Miranda Hart into a meringue or Rhod Gilbert racing a prawn on a treadmill.

The eight part series features a flock of celebrity guests who try to prove that their fact is correct. The first episode features Ruth Jones, Dara O’Briain and Melanie C with guests across the rest of the series to include Jimmy Carr, Sanjeev Bhaskar, John Hannah, Sue Perkins and Ricky Tomlinson.

Facts tackled by Lee and his celebrity panel, with added expertise from our in house scientists, include whether laughing 100 times is equivalent to 10 minutes on an exercise bike, somewhat controversially that men are better at multi-tasking than women and the team will also attempt to prove, contrary to popular belief, that it IS possible to sneeze with your eyes open.

In his first project for Sky 1 HD, Lee Mack comments, “I'm really, really excited that I finally have the opportunity to put to the test such important, profound and meaningful debates as ‘can pet dogs catch yawns from their owners’?”

Adam MacDonald, Director of Sky 1 said, “We’re delighted to welcome the hugely funny Lee Mack to the Sky 1 team. DUCK QUACKS DON’T ECHO, with its smart blend of comedy, celebrity and mad facts, is a perfect treat for Sky customers.”

DUCK QUACKS DON’T ECHO is a Magnum Media production. Andy Auerbach and Dean Nabarro are the executive producers for Magnum and Chris Brogden, Commissioning Editor for Entertainment executive produces for Sky.

This commission is part of Sky's commitment to increase its investment in original British content by 50% over three years. By the end of 2014, Sky expects to have invested £600 million a year in British programmes across its portfolio of channels. This commitment follows the success of home-grown content across the portfolio including entertainment hits GOT TO DANCE and A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, dramas STRIKE BACK and MAD DOGS, comedies such as MOONE BOY and STELLA, and factual shows such as ROSS KEMP EXTREME WORLD and DAVID ATTENBOROUGH’S NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM ALIVE 3D.

DUCK QUACKS DON’T ECHO will start on Friday 7th February at 10pm on Sky 1 HD, Sky 1 + 1 and on the move with Sky Go. The series will be available for catch up through Sky’s On Demand service.

Further information:

Lesley Land                                                           

Senior Publicist, Sky 1 HD                             

lesley.land@bskyb.com                                                 

020 7032 0676                                                   

Nicola Vincent

Publicist, Sky 1 HD

nicola.vincent@bskyb.com

020 7032 3078

www.skypressoffice.co.uk

@sky1insider

About Sky

Sky is the UK and Ireland’s leading home entertainment and communications company. Around 40% of all homes have a direct relationship with Sky through its range of TV, broadband and home telephony services.

Sky is the UK’s biggest investor in television content, investing more than £2.3 billion a year in channels such as Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Sky Arts, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky News.   Around two-thirds of Sky’s content spend is invested in the UK and Sky is the fastest-growing source of investment in original British programmes. More than 30 million people watch Sky content each week.

Alongside its commitment to offering customers a greater choice of high-quality content, Sky is a leading innovator. Customers enjoy total control and flexibility over their favourite TV through Sky+, watch TV on the move through Sky Go, and enjoy the best quality TV experience at home through High Definition and 3D.

Sky distributes its content broadly over several platforms, including satellite, cable, IPTV, mobile and WiFi.  NOW TV, Sky’s second consumer brand, builds on the company’s leadership in internet TV. Sky is also the UK's fastest-growing home communications company and favourite ‘triple-play’ provider of TV, broadband and home phone.

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates by taking positive action on the environment, supporting grassroots sport, opening up the arts to more people and raising the aspiration of young people in schools. Sky employs 23,500 people, has annual revenues of £6.8 billion and is estimated to support a £5.4 billion contribution to UK GDP. Sky is listed on the London Stock Exchange

By 2014, Sky will invest £600 million a year in British programmes across its portfolio of channels.  This commitment includes home-grown content such as upcoming entertainment quiz DUCK QUACKS DON’T ECHO, dramas such as MOONFLEET, THE TUNNEL, DRACULA, A YOUNG DOCTOR’S NOTEBOOK, FLEMING and THE SMOKE, comedies such as STELLA, DOLL & EM,THE KUMARS and factual shows such as KARL PILKINGTON: THE MOANING OF LIFE, THE SOUTH BANK SHOW, THE FACE and ROSS KEMP EXTREME WORLD.