COMEDY CENTRAL UK RECOMMISSIONS ‘THE ALTERNATIVE COMEDY EXPERIENCE’

LONDON, 29 May 2013: Comedy Central UK today announced details of a second series commission of its cult hit stand-up show The Alternative Comedy Experience.

The series, produced in-house by Comedy Central UK’s Head of Production, Colin Dench, and directed by Tim Kirkby, will return for a further 12 x 30’ episode run, to be filmed this summer and due to air on the channel in early 2014.

The Alternative Comedy Experience is the only show of its kind on UK television, dedicated to bringing alternative comedy to new audiences on Comedy Central. The series, which examines the enduringly popular, grass-roots stand up scene and films as live at in , will feature genre-busting, cult-comedy performers, hand-picked by the channel, including internationally acclaimed, award-winning talent. Performers returning to series two include Tony Law, , David Kay, Maeve Higgins, and David O Doherty alongside a mix of newcomers such as , , Liam Mullone and Grainne MaGuire.

Stewart Lee will once again collaborate on the show as an executive producer and talent curator. Lee will also provide exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with the performers, to uncover the inspiration behind their unique stand-up acts, which will be interspersed with their specially filmed live performances.

Commenting on the recommission Jill Offman, SVP & Managing Director, Comedy Central, said: “As a big supporter of live British comedy we want to showcase the thriving and varied stand-up scene that exists here. The Alternative Comedy Experience is part of our growing slate of original, local commissions which also includes the forthcoming clip based, sketch show ‘ World’ and sitcom ‘Big Bad World’ starring Blake Harrison.”

Colin Dench, producer of the series, added: “The first series of The Alternative Comedy Experience was a big hit with viewers, up 47% on the slot average, and showed how funny and accessible ‘alternative’ comedy can be by allowing a behind the scenes view of the real world of stand up inside an actual comedy club. This year the line-up will feature an unprecedented number of female comics amongst our brilliant cast, and with so many BAFTAs, Perriers, Barrys, Sonys and Awards between them, rarely has such a line-up of cutting-edge talent featured in one series.”

The recommission of The Alternative Comedy Experience follows news that the show has been signed by Australia’s public television channel, ABC2, with an anticipated transmission in June 2013.

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For further information, please contact: Patricia Lodge, Communications Director, Comedy Central 020 3580 3253 / [email protected]

Notes to Editors:

About Comedy Central UK:

Comedy Central is a leading Pay TV General Entertainment channel and is part of Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN). A joint venture between VIMN (75%) and BSkyB (25%), Comedy Central airs on the Sky and Virgin Media platforms. Comedy Central launched in the UK in April 2009 and has since grown by a phenomenal 82%. The channel broadcasts a mix of hit US acquisitions and original UK productions targeting a 16-34 year-old audience. Popular shows include Two And A Half Men, Anger Management, Friends, The Daily Show, South Park, 30 Rock Mike & Molly, Tosh.0 and Whitney. In 2012 Comedy Central aired its first local commission Threesome which received both critical acclaim and high ratings. A subsequent series followed as well as the channel’s second commission Alternative Comedy Experience. Other commissions set to debut in 2013 include Seann Walsh World and Big Bad World. In addition to the main Comedy Central channel are Comedy Central +1, Comedy Central Extra and Comedy Central Extra +1 providing audiences with further viewing opportunities and more fantastic content.