Tuesday 13th June 2023
UKTV announces the return of Rosie Jones's Disability Comedy Extravaganza as a UKTV Play exclusive. The hilarious, live comedy showcase is produced by Phil McIntyre Television and will air on UKTV Play in August 2023. Host Rosie Jones, will welcome a plethora of up-and-coming comedic talent, alongside some familiar faces to a live audience of producers and commissioners from across the industry, delivering on UKTV's continuing commitment to provide a platform for diverse and underrepresented talent. Rosie Jones said,
We're back and rightfully so! I am so excited to be back on stage, joined by some incredibly talented comedians. It is vital to continue to grow visibility and representation of disability on screen and I am thrilled to be hosting this showcase again!
Rosie Jones's Disability Comedy Extravaganza follows the resounding success of the first UKTV Disabled Comedian's Showcase which took place in October 2021 for an industry audience. The previous series shined a light on some incredible talent including headliner Josh Pugh, Bethany Black, Jake Lambert, Don Biswas, Sarah Mills, Sam Serrano, Lara Ricote, Dan Tiernan, William Thompson and Will Robbins. Following the success of the show, Josh Pugh and Lara Ricote have since appeared in a variety of Dave shows, including: Mel Giedroyc: Unforgiveable S3, Question Team S2, World's Most Dangerous Roads and Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled S7.
Rosie Jones's Disability Comedy Extravaganza is commissioned by Mark Iddon, UKTV senior commissioning editor comedy entertainment and ordered for UKTV Play by Andrea Amey, general manager, digital and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning. The series is being produced for UKTV and Phil McIntyre Television with Adele Fowler as producer and Lucy Ansbro and Lindsay Jex as executive producers. Mark Iddon, senior commissioning editor of comedy Entertainment, UKTV said,
The entire team here at UKTV are excited to welcome back Rosie Jones's Disability Comedy Extravaganza. Firstly, any opportunity to get Rosie on UKTV is a massive win for us. Secondly, there are so many very funny and talented disabled comics out there that we want our audiences to discover. Previous extravaganzas have proven to be a big success and this one is going to be even bigger.
Phil McIntyre Television said,
We are thrilled to be working with Rosie and UKTV again on this showcase of exciting, cutting edge comedians. It's like a breath of fresh air to be producing such a talented bunch of comics from all backgrounds and abilities who will no doubt be the stars of the future. Together with the team at UKTV, we are committed to providing an inclusive environment for new talent to thrive, and if this showcase goes even just a small way in making that happen, then we're doing what we set out to do.
For further information please contact:
Lauren Mutimer, Platform Publicist, UKTV
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.