Joe Wilkinson and David Earl will explore their favourite sitcoms together with help from stars such as Ricky Gervais
14th October, London: Comedians, writers, performers and podcasters Joe Wilkinson and David Earl will bring their camaraderie and love of comedy to U&Gold for Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour (3x60’). Part travelogue, part buddy comedy and part retrospective, in Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour Joe Wilkinson and David Earl will explore their love of classic British sitcoms, with an episode each devoted to The Office, Porridge and Fawlty Towers. In the episode exploring The Office, Joe & David meet up with David Brent himself, series co-creator, co-writer and star Ricky Gervais, and are even treated to an up close and personal performance of the David Brent classic song Freelove Freeway.
Joe Wilkinson said “I’ve been obsessed with sitcoms since I was a lad, so hunting about for locations and other bits and bobs related to some of my favourite shows is like a dream come true…and that’s why I refused to take a fee for this job.”
David Earl said “I’m very grateful to UKTV for giving us the chance to make this series, something me and Joe have been talking about for ages. It honestly feels like I’ve won a competition where the prize is stepping through the TV screen into my favourite sitcom worlds. This 51 year old man is very happy indeed.”
In each episode one of the pair will plan a specially themed and surprising day out for the other, with each taking it in turns. Basing each leg of their Magical Sitcom Tour on The Office, Porridge and Fawlty Towers, they’ll visit filming locations, reenact their favourite iconic moments and hear amazing behind the scenes tales from cast, crew and very special guests.
Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour is commissioned for UKTV by Mark Iddon, senior commissioning editor, comedy entertainment, and ordered by Gerald Casey, director of programming, comedy and entertainment, and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning. Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour is produced by Zeppotron (a Banijay UK company), with James Fidler as series producer and Peter Holmes as executive producer, and co-produced by Big Oval Plate, with Joe Wilkinson and David Earl as executive producers.
Mark Iddon said, “Joe Wilkinson and David Earl are the U&Gold audience. They don’t just admire these sitcoms, they love them with the same passion our viewers do. That’s what makes this show feel so special. It’s like watching two fans take us all along on their own personal love letter to comedy classics. They’re hilarious together, and that shared obsession means our audience will embrace them as one of their own.”
Gerald Casey said, “It’s an absolute delight to welcome Joe Wilkinson and David Earl back to U&Gold. Two of the country’s funniest men exploring our funniest shows, viewers are in for a treat.”
Peter Holmes said, “This show is the very definition of that overused TV term “passion project”. Joe and David love sitcoms and their affection for the form and for each other make them the perfect pair to take us on a tour of these comedy classics.”
Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour is the latest comedy commission for U&Gold. This month the channel aired a live recording of Fawlty Towers - The Play,and next month sees a 50th anniversary retrospective for The Good Life: Inside Out, while earlier this year Neil Morrissey and Martin Clunes reunited for Neil & Martin’s Bon Voyage. In early 2026 U&Gold will air Becoming Victoria Wood, a feature-length documentary about the life of Victoria Wood, which will also receive a nationwide theatrical release.
Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour will air on U&Gold in 2026.
*ENDS*
For more information, please contact:
Ben Duncan, Consumer Publicity Manager, UKTV
Victoria Hartley-Wilson, Plank PR