Four brand new specials for iconic hit comedy show examining modern life will air later this year
Stand-up comedian and "high priest of comedy PowerPoint" (The Times) Dave Gorman returns to UKTV after a seven-year hiatus with four brand-new specials for the critically acclaimed and ratings hit, Dave Gorman Modern Life Is Goodish (4x60').
"Life has definitely got 7 years moderner - so there should be plenty to get my teeth into."
Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish ran for five series on Dave, attracting 1.5 million viewers per episode at its peak and was one of UKTV's longest running and successful original commissions. Armed with a computer, clicker and checked shirt, Dave casts an eye over modern life in his own unique style combining stand-up, visual storytelling, and real-world experimentation. In these mischievous comedy performances, Dave turns his attention to the areas of everyday life we normally take for granted- scrutinising the absurdities and contradictions that continue to fascinate and infuriate him.
Dave Gorman said: "I'm delighted to be getting back in the Goodish saddle. It's been 7 years since I hung up my Modern Life Is Goodish clicker and in that time, life has definitely got 7 years moderner - so there should be plenty to get my teeth into."
Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish is produced by Avalon, commissioned for UKTV by Mark Iddon, senior commissioning executive, comedy and entertainment, and ordered by Cherie Hall, Dave channel director and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning. It is directed by Paul Wheeler and series produced by James Fidler. The executive producers are Jamie Issacs and Dave Gorman.
Mark Iddon said: "I'm massively thrilled to announce the return of Modern Life Is Goodish to the U&Dave audience. Dave Gorman's unique comedic insights and witty PowerPoint presentations have always resonated with our audience. His ability to dissect the quirks of modern life with humour and intelligence is unmatched. I can't wait to dive back into the joyous and thought-provoking observations that make modern life not just good, but goodish. In a world where everything's 'meh', we could use a dose of 'ish'. It's great to have you back, Dave!"
Cherie Hall said: "Modern Life is Goodish is a true institution on the channel and it's a pleasure to welcome Dave back to explore how the world has changed since the last series - and more importantly all the ways in which it's still just as maddening and hilarious as ever."
Jamie Issacs said: "After a well-earned break we are very excited this is happening again as we have really missed Dave's uniquely brilliant and very funny take on the world. We can't wait to start work on this with Dave and the team at UKTV."
Dave Gorman's live career has seen him sell out multiple tours of the UK, perform three runs off Broadway in New York, tour the USA, and become responsible for the fastest selling show in the history of the Studio Theatre at The Sydney Opera House. Live performances have also earned him the title of Best One Person Show at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival (twice), as well as nominations for the Edinburgh Comedy Award (Perrier Award), the South Bank Award and two nominations for the prestigious American Drama Desk Award.
Dave Gorman Modern Life Is Goodish joins a string of comedy entertainment commissions on the channel this year, alongside Battle In The Box hosted by Jimmy Carr, Follow The Leader with Jamali Maddix, returning series of World's Most Dangerous Roads, Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable and scripted comedy Meet The Richardsons.
Dave Gorman Modern Life Is Goodish will air on U&Dave and stream on U later this year, following the launch of U this month - a new masterbrand that will unite UKTV's family of free-to-air channels and its free streaming service. The move will see current streaming service UKTV Play transition to U, and UKTV's family of free-to-air channels will become U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&YESTERDAY and U&W.
For more information, please contact:
Neelam Rhodes, Front Desk Publicist, UKTV
Notes for Editors:
Praise for Dave Gorman Modern Life Is Goodish
- "As much a lecture as traditional stand-up, and features original journalism... Gorman makes me laugh. He also tells me stuff I don't know... The show was a little tour de force, terrific-ish." Andrew Billen, The Times
- "This deceptively simple series, in which Dave Gorman gives illustrated lectures on myriad elements of everyday existence, is one of the Dave channel's biggest hits, probably because Gorman is such a funny and affable person to spend an hour with." Boyd Hilton, Heat
- "His fine observations and crafted running jokes will soon have you snorting... Dave's website (Dave the channel, not Gorman himself) has an archive of several seasons of this hidden jewel." Jack Seale, Radio Times
- "He handles his audience like a DJ at a club, beginning with a thoughtful set about guilty pleasures... before building to a story about a complicated trick he once played on a know-all friend known as Micki Pedia, the punchline of which has the audience gasp with delight." Victoria Segal, Sunday Times Culture
- "TV Gold: brilliantly-observed... and is naturally very funny." Ally Ross, The Sun
- "Dave Gorman is a clever and inventive comic... and Modern Life Is Goodish shows why he is so popular." Simon Horsford, Daily Telegraph
- "In the study of modern miscellany Dave Gorman is the equivalent of a professor emeritus... Not so much a stand-up comedian as the funniest teacher fans never had... Gorman is an alternative comedian in the most literal sense. There's no one else quite like him." Ian Burrell, The Independent
- "When TV goodish is perfect." David Stephenson, Sunday Express
- "Modern life is neither good nor bad. This is the argument Dave Gorman has made repeatedly since 2013 - and we're still hanging on his every word." Sara Wallis, Daily Mirror
- "It's a sort of cutting-edge documentary-slash-stand-up hybrid, with Gorman offering genius gags aplenty." Rachel Aroesti, The Guardian
About Avalon
Avalon is a multi-award-winning talent management, television production and live promotion group with offices in London, Los Angeles and New York. Avalon, Artists Rights Group and The Agency together represent a diverse and distinctive roster of artists including actors, comedians, writers and directors, among them Academy Award, BAFTA, Emmy, Tony and Olivier Award-winners.
Avalon is the UK's largest true independent television production company, with over 40 shows in production in the last year including: hit entertainment format Taskmaster (Channel 4 in the UK, Network 10 in Australia, TV4 in Sweden, TVNorge/Discovery+ in Norway); Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO); Starstruck (HBO Max/BBC); Not Going Out (BBC), the UK's longest running sitcom on air; Breeders (FX/Sky); The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show(BBC); and Fantasy Football League (Sky). Avalon has produced over 4,000 episodes of hit programming for audiences in the UK, US and around the world, winning over 30 Emmy Awards and BAFTAs from nearly 100 nominations.
Other landmark Avalon shows include Catastrophe (Amazon/Channel 4), Flatbush Misdemeanors (Showtime), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky), TV Burp (ITV), and the cult classic workplace sitcom Workaholics (Comedy Central). Avalon has also produced over 60 comedy specials for various platforms including Amazon, HBO and Netflix, as well as numerous podcasts and radio shows, including the UK's biggest podcast Shagged. Married. Annoyed. with Chris & Rosie Ramsey. Avalon's dedicated distribution arm licenses its catalogue of programmes and formats to over 200 territories worldwide.
Avalon also produces and promotes live comedy around the world and has promoted more winners and nominees of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award than any other company. Avalon produced Newman and Baddiel: Live at Wembley, the UK's first arena comedy show, Jerry Springer: The Opera, winner of four Olivier Awards, and is currently producing Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical in the West End. For Avalon news visit: www.avalonuk.com/press or follow @avalonent
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers.
UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.