Home TV News ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’: UKTV’s Dave Picks Up 50 Episodes Of US Improv Comedy

‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’: UKTV’s Dave Picks Up 50 Episodes Of US Improv Comedy

by Dave Elliott

‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’: UKTV’s Dave Picks Up 50 Episodes Of US Improv Comedy

UKTV’s Dave has picked up 50 episodes of the CW revival of beloved improv comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? to air from February 2021 it has been announced.

For those who don’t remember the original UK version, ‘Whose Line is it Anyway?’ is an unscripted comedy show in which four guest performers improvise their way through a series of games, including voicing over a clip from a film which has had the soundtrack removed, inventing a song about a member of the audience, finding entertaining ways of using props or acting a scene in a variety of styles. Performers are awarded points by the host on an entirely arbitrary basis. The “prize” for the “winner” is to read out the closing credits in a style demanded by the host.

The original UK show ran on Channel 4 from 1988 to 1999, hosted by Clive Anderson, with a variety of improv stars including John Sessions, Tony Slattery, Stephen Fry, Paul Merton, Mike McShane, Josie Lawrence, Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie. The US version originally launches on ABC in 1998 where it ran until 2007 with Drew Carey as host. The CW then revived the show in 2013 with US talk show host, actress and comedian Aisha Tyler as host, which is the version Dave are now bringing to the UK.

For fans of the original UK version, you’ll be very pleased to hear that Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie are both still regulars, alongside Wayne Brady and celebrity guests including people such as Mel B, Kevin McHale, Nolan Gould and Jack Osbourne.

The deal was brokered by Hat Trick International’s (HTI) Cassandra Toller and UKTV’s Global Acquisitions Manager, Daniel Thomas. The series will launch on the network’s Dave channel this February in a prime-time evening slot, stripped across the week.

“Hat Trick International has established an incredible pedigree of highly successful comedy series in its catalogue and we’re delighted to be able to spread some laughs to many parts of the world through the sales of these two entertainment formats,” commented Sarah Tong, Director of Sales at Hat Trick International. “We all need cheering up right now and they certainly deliver a mix of intelligent wit and silly comedy.”

Whose Line Is It Anyway?‘ (I think from Season 11, which was the third season of the CW revival) will begin airing on UKTV’s Dave from 15th February 2021 at 7pm with a double bill in the UK.

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