It was announced today (7th August 2015) that the ratings and critical hit, Dave Gorman Modern Life Is Goodish will return to Dave (the channel) for a further two series. With the third series set to broadcast during autumn, this makes the show one of Dave’s (the channel, again) longest running and most successful commissions.
The Liberty Bell Productions show, written by and performed by DAVE GORMAN, already held the accolade of being one of the highest rating shows for Dave and further increased its audience, in every respect, on the record-breaking first run. The second series reached 7.8 million individuals, with an average audience of 577K (and peaking with 651K for episode 6 (up +102% on the slot average). The series also successfully attracted the key young and upmarket audience to the channel with 43% 16-34 and 56% ABC1s. Presented using DAVE GORMAN’s unique blend of stand-up and documentary-comedy, the show gives a whole new take on the things we normally take for granted. In the last series spam emails, meaningless world records, Dickinson’s Real Deal, ‘Greatest’ Hits Albums, chewing gum ad campaigns, the rise of the machines, government e-petitions, what to do with a found camera and one suspiciously prolific celebrity journalist were all investigated, dissected and, occasionally, the subject of some well-meaning mischief. And, of course, GORMAN was still sifting through the most ridiculous, opinionated and downright maddest reader comments to be found on the most frenzy-inducing articles he could find online, as each week he took such comments and weaved them into, what he likes to call, a Found Poem.
IAIN COYLE, Commissioning Editor for Dave, said, “I’m absolutely cockahoop that we’re doing more of these. Dave continues to innovate, through his ability to see things that seem to be hiding in plain sight, and sheer unrivalled hard work. His dedication and genius shine through in these shows, that’s why folk love them.”
JAMIE ISAACS, Executive Producer for Liberty Bell, said: “It’s a pleasure to work with a writer-performer who’s so on top of his game. UKTV have also done a great job nurturing and supporting the show and it’s very exciting to see it go from strength to strength.”
STEVE NORTH, General Manager for Dave, added: “It’s a fantastic testament to Dave Gorman that we are continuing to build this series. The audience loves his intelligence and humorous take on modern life. Modern Life is Goodish is now part of a solid foundation of original commissions on Dave.”
Dave Gorman Modern Life Is Goodish has been commissioned by IAIN COYLE for Dave. The show is produced by NICK MARTIN (Have I Got News For You), produced by JAMES FIDLER (Frank Skinner’s Opinionated) and directed by PAUL WHEELER (Live At The Apollo), while the Executive Producers are JAMIE ISAACS for Liberty Bell and IAIN COYLE.
The 8 x 60 min series are expected to go into production in 2016 and 2017.
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What the press have said about Dave Gorman: Modern Life Is Goodish
“It’s a sort of cutting-edge documentary-slash-stand-up hybrid, with Gorman offering genius gags aplenty”
Rachel Aroesti, The Guardian Guide
“Gorman is that rare thing: a comedian who leaves you with a warm glow and tears in your eyes”
Claire Webb, Radio Times
“Dave Gorman is a clever and inventive comic…and Modern Life Is Goodish shows why he is so popular”
Simon Horsford, The Daily Telegraph
“in the study of modern miscellany Dave Gorman is the equivalent of a professor emeritus…Not so much a stand-up comedian as the funniest teacher fans never had…Gorman is an alternative comedian in the most literal sense. There’s no one else quite like him.”
Ian Burrell, The Independent
“When TV goodish is perfect”
David Stephenson, Sunday Express
“TV Gold”
Ally Ross, The Sun
“Dave Gorman is funny and brilliant in equal measure.”
David Chater, The Times
“consistently brilliant”
Adam Postans, The People
“there are nice ideas here, and the section revealing the results of leaving disposable cameras around London (with user instructions) is really entertaining”
The Sunday Times, Culture
For more information please contact: Dan Lloyd at Avalon on: 020 7598 7222 or email: DanL@avalonuk.com
Notes to editors
About Liberty Bell
Liberty Bell Productions, formed in autumn 2002, specialises in the production of television documentaries and features, factual entertainment, current affairs, drama-documentary and youth programming. Productions include: The Three Day Nanny (Channel 4), Scrappers (BBC One), Dave Gorman: Modern Life is Goodish (Dave), the Grumpy Old… series and the Three Men… series (BBC TWO).
What the press has said about previous Liberty Bell productions:
Flockstars
“It may sound as if TV game shows have finally jumped the shark – or indeed the sheep – but Flockstars is the first really good idea ITV have had for some time. Brilliant title, cracking concept: like One Man and His Dog, but with national appeal”
Horatio Clare, The Sunday Telegraph
The Three Day Nanny
“I’m not just watching, I’m taking notes, because a lot of this applies to my family.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian
Portillo on Thatcher: The Lady’s Not For Spurning
“Gordon Brown and David Cameron should watch it. Tony Blair should get a hold of a tape and reflect on what might have been. Media bosses who only commission films if they portray politicians as corrupt and mad should take note also…I know people with only a passing interest in politics who were gripped.”
Steve Richards, The Independent
The Alastair Campbell Diaries
“Just as DVD extras allow you to see the human fallibility that lies behind the polished exterior of the finished film, Campbell’s diary fills in the engrossing trivia of off-stage politics…it is completely engrossing.”
Thomas Sutcliffe, The Independent
The Widow’s Tale
“This complex and moving film is one of the television highlights of the year so far.”
Andrew Male, The Sunday Times
Grumpy Old Men
“The whole programme put me into an uncharacteristically, seethingly good mood…Wonderful stuff”
A.A. Gill, The Sunday Times
About Dave
Sky 111/246, Virgin 128/194, Freeview 12, BT & TalkTalk 12
On demand on Sky, Virgin and UKTV Play
Dave proudly presents a plethora of original commissions; award-winning Crackanory, Ross Noble Freewheeling, Dave Gorman’s Modern Life is Goodish, and Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, all laden with the biggest names in British comedy. Not to mention a brand spanking new original series Hoff the Record, Undercover and Taskmaster.
There’s national treasures like QI, Red Dwarf X, Mock the Week and Have I Got News For You, plus the Red Bull trilogy of Cliff Diving, X-Fighters and the Soap Box races. And of course, we still have Top Gear.
Dave is the UK’s most watched non-PSB channel broadcasting to over 27 million people per month, featuring hit US shows including the sharp-witted and sharp-suited Suits, critically-acclaimed Parks & Recreation and brand spanking new US series The Last Man on Earth. How can we forget the wonder that is Storage Hunters and now original commission Storage Hunters UK, the gift that keeps on giving.
About UKTV
UKTV is the multi-award winning media company that reaches 42 million viewers a month.
UKTV’s eleven imaginative brands – UKTV Play, Dave, Watch, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food – include the most popular non-PSB channel in the UK and account for 9% of the British commercial TV market. The company’s most recent financial results showed record-breaking year-end revenue of £283m and EBITDA of £74.1m. It invested £123m in programming and related launches last year, and is becoming an increasingly significant investor in UK creativity.
UKTV has a truly innovative model, curating brand-defining commissions, high-profile acquisitions and the very best of BBC, alongside programmes originally shown on ITV and Channel 4. The network embraces technology to deliver inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories.
Now celebrating its 22nd year at the forefront of digital television, UKTV – an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) – is proud to be the only British television broadcaster to be recognised by Best Companies.
corporate.uktv.co.uk / press.uktv.co.uk / @uktv_press
