LONDON, 22nd August 2018: A+E Networks UK has commissioned UK production company Avalon to produce a 5×60’ series presented by Al Murray titled: Al Murray: Why Does Everyone Hate The English?
The new series will be broadcast on HISTORY® in autumn 2018.
Famous for his comedy alter ego, “The Pub Landlord”, the award winning comedian and history fanatic will find out what lies behind England’s greatest feuds with its closest neighbours: Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and France.
Each episode will see Al partner with a local comedian and proud patriot (Antoine de Caunes in France, Henning Wehn in Germany, Fred MacAulay in Scotland, Elis James in Wales and Andrew Maxwell in Ireland) to explore stories of historic battles, massacres, riots and revolutions that have set the tone for our modern relationships with our closest neighbours.
It’s the perfect opportunity to shake hands and make friends…right?
Al Murray said: An Englishman, a Scotsman, a Welshman, an Irishman, a German and a Frenchman all walk into the HISTORY channel…. I’m looking forward to introducing some very funny people to investigate this old and vexatious question. With five entangled histories, five quite different stories, and five funny egos jostling for air time.
The series is commissioned and executive produced by Dan Korn, VP of Programming at A+E Networks UK, with Diana Carter, Commissioning Editor and Head of Talent at A+E Networks UK.
Dan Korn said: There has never been a more important time to get under the skin of what it means to be English and revisit the state of relations with our nearest neighbours. In these uncertain times, England needs all the friends it can get, so the time is ripe to reassess the historical roots of our deepest, most keenly felt historical enmities, and who better to undertake this delicate diplomatic exercise, than our very own Pub Landlord.
Why Does Everyone Hate The English? is an Avalon production. Andrew Fettis is series director (Three Men In A Boat, Top Gear), series producer is Simon Harries (Dangerman – The Incredible Mr Goodwin, It Was Alright In The 70s) and executive producers are Jamie Isaacs and Richard Allen Turner.
Jamie Isaacs, Executive Producer for Avalon, said: We are thrilled to be working with HISTORY on this very entertaining but deeply interesting analysis of England’s reputation amongst its neighbours. Al has a brilliant gift for humorously bringing history to life and his friendly enthusiasm for getting to the bottom of these feuds is utterly infectious.
Why Does Everyone Hate The English? has completed production and is set to broadcast on HISTORY in the Autumn of 2018. HISTORY is available on Sky, Virgin, BT and TalkTalk.
ENDS
#HateTheEnglish
For more information please contact:
David Clifton at A+E Networks UK / David.Clifton@aetn.co.uk / 07715 799 967
Rita Ruparelia at A+E Networks UK / Rita.Ruparelia@aetn.co.uk / 07807 360 407
Dan Lloyd at Avalon on 0207 598 7222 / DanL@avalonuk.co.uk
Will Taylor at tpf on 0207 291 1522 / willtaylor@tpf-london.com / 07539 080 231
Andrew Mitchell at tpf on 0207 291 1523 / andrewmitchell@tpf-london.com / 07946 286 586
Editor’s Notes
- Show page: history.co.uk/almurray
- HISTORY® is available on Sky 529 / Virgin 270 / BT 327 / Talk 327.
- Clips, viewing materials and images to be provided on request when available.
- Interview access available depending on availability.
- Al Murray’s bio can be accessed here https://avalonuk.com/clients/al-murray/
About A+E Networks UK
A+E Networks® UK is a joint venture between A+E Networks® and Sky. Its portfolio of quality factual and entertainment channels includes HISTORY®, Lifetime®, Crime + Investigation®, H2® and new free-to-air channel BLAZE™. A+E Networks UK launched in November 1995 and now operates 18 channels, broadcasting into 56 million homes across 102 countries in the UK, Scandinavia, Benelux, Central & Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The venture has offices in London, Warsaw and Johannesburg. www.aenetworks.tv @AENetworksUK
About Avalon
Avalon is a multi-award winning talent management, live promotion and television production group with offices in the UK and the USA. Avalon and ARG, the talent management arm has discovered and represents many artists which are household names, both in the UK, the USA, and around the world. In 2018 Avalon was again named the number one true independent television production company in the UK and has produced numerous ground-breaking television shows including: Emmy and Peabody award winner Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO), multi-award winning and Emmy-nominated Catastrophe (Channel 4/Amazon Prime), RTS and Rose d’Or winning Not Going Out (the BBC’s longest running sitcom currently on air), BAFTA and RTS-nominated Taskmaster (DAVE/UKTV), multi-BAFTA award winning TV Burp (ITV1), Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC2), Fantasy Football League (BBC/ITV) and Workaholics (Comedy Central USA). Avalon and Topical Television form the television arm of the company and other shows recently in production include: Taskmaster USA (Comedy Central), Man Down (C4), Dave Gorman’s Modern Life is Goodish (Dave/UKTV), The Chris Ramsey Show (Comedy Central), and The Button (BBC One); whilst the catalogue is sold worldwide by Avalon Distribution. Avalon produced Newman and Baddiel: Live at Wembley, the UK’s first arena comedy show; Jerry Springer: The Opera, the first West End show to win all four UK ‘Best New Musical’ awards; and has continued to produce live shows globally, as well as promoting more winners and nominees of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award than any other company. For Avalon news visit: www.avalon-entertainment.com or @avalonent.
