Home TV News ‘Mock The Week’ Returns On TLC As Warner Bros. Discovery Refreshes UK Free-To-Air Line-Up

‘Mock The Week’ Returns On TLC As Warner Bros. Discovery Refreshes UK Free-To-Air Line-Up

by Dave Elliott

After being cancelled by the BBC back in 2022, Mock The Week is officially back, with the long-running satirical panel show finding a new home on TLC as part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s refreshed UK free-to-air portfolio.

The reboot launches this February on TLC, which has just relaunched as a broad entertainment channel, and marks one of the headline moves in WBD’s wider revamp of its free-to-air networks, which also include Quest, Quest Red, Food Network, Really and DMAX.

At the heart of it all is the return of one very familiar face. Dara O Briain is back in the host’s chair, overseeing a brand-new run of hour-long episodes that stick closely to the format fans know and love, while giving the show more room to breathe.

The new series keeps classic rounds such as If This Is the Answer, What Is the Question?, Wheel of News, Picture of the Week and the legendary Scenes We’d Like to See, alongside new rounds created specifically for the expanded 60-minute runtime. Expect the same fast, sharp, occasionally unhinged energy that made the show a comedy institution in the first place.

Joining Dara across the series is a rotating line-up of comedians, including Rhys James, Sara Pascoe, Angela Barnes, Ed Byrne, Ahir Shah, Milton Jones, Katherine Ryan, Hugh Dennis, Sarah Keyworth, Lou Sanders, Glenn Moore, Ellie Taylor and Russell Howard, with more names still to be announced.

Speaking about the show’s return, Dara O Briain said:
“I’m genuinely delighted to be back doing Mock the Week and on TLC. From what I remember, it’s a show that thrives on silly jokes from smart people and any actual insight is purely accidental. Also, from what I remember, my job was mainly just pressing a buzzer and handing out imaginary points. I can still do that. Here, have some imaginary points! That’s how easy it is. Also, it’s coming back just in time to confuse people who had only just heard it had been cancelled. See you there!”

The return of Mock the Week is also a key part of TLC’s repositioning. With its new branding, the channel is now leaning into broad entertainment, mixing comedy, factual and unscripted programming. Alongside Mock the Week, TLC’s refreshed schedule includes The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Mike and Molly, the UK premiere of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, plus returning favourites such as Dr Pimple Popper, The Bad Skin Clinic, My 600Lb Life and 90 Day Fiancé. Later in the year, the channel will also debut Zero Stars, a new travel-comedy series featuring Roisin Conaty and Sara Pascoe.

Graham Lafferty, SVP Content Strategy and Networks at Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland, said the relaunch was about giving each channel a clearer identity while strengthening their collective offer. He added that the return of Mock the Week, with longer episodes and Dara back at the helm, was something the company was “hugely excited by”.

Beyond TLC, WBD has also outlined a busy 2026 across its wider free-to-air portfolio and discovery+. That includes the return of Vinnie Jones in the Country, a sixth season of Richard Hammond’s Workshop, new Quest series Guz Khan’s Custom Cars and Francis Bourgeois & Chris Harris: We Saved a Train, plus returning favourites such as Johnny Vegas’ Little Shop of Antiques and Ant Anstead: Born Mechanic.

Mock The Week’ launches Sunday, 1st February 2026 at 9pm on TLC.

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1 comment

Rob👤 Guest January 14, 2026 - 12:26 pm

I loved Mock The Week. Never understood why the BBC cancelled it, I can’t imagine it ever cost that much to produce and seeing this news has really made me smile. Dara and the whole team always made me laugh out loud so much. Hope it’s a success on TLC and really glad it’s back.

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