It was announced today (16 May 2014) that Liberty Bell Scotland are making a new children’s show, The Joke Machine (50 x 5 minutes) for CBBC.
The Joke Machine is an interplanetary craft manned by the Joke Master, played by JARRED CHRISTMAS, who is in search of the UK’s best jokes. Where better to look than the school playground? In each episode, children from two schools are beamed up into the Joke Machine and compete to tell the best jokes. However, if they fail to amuse the Joke Master they get a comedy punishment.
The series was commissioned by CBBC Controller CHERYL TAYLOR. It is being produced by JASON DAWSON and executive produced by JAMIE ISAACS for Liberty Bell. The executive for CBBC is HUGH LAWTON.
JAMIE ISAACS said: “It’s a really simple and funny format that all children can take part in. It’s really exciting to be working with Jarred and he brings a special touch of madness and unpredictability to the project.”
CHERYL TAYLOR added: “Kids really love laughing and sharing jokes and this series captures all the fun of playground punchlines. The short, snappy comedy is great entertainment for our young audience and viewers will love seeing a favourite pastime reflected on TV.”
The series is expected to air in summer 2014.
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For more information please contact: Dan Lloyd at Avalon on: 020 7598 7222 or email: [email protected]
Notes to editors
Jarred Christmas
An award-winning comedian, JARRED CHRISTMAS has appeared on TV shows including: Mock The Week (BBC2), Never Mind the Buzzcocks (BBC2) 8 out of 10 Cats, (Channel 4), Argumental (Dave), One Night Stand (Dave) and Let’s Dance for Comic Relief (BBC 1). His radio credits include Act Your Age (BBC Radio 4), and Flight of the Conchords (BBC Radio 2).
What the press has said previously about Jarred Christmas:
“Likeable, intelligent and full of unpredictable energy”
The Scotsman
“One of the funniest men to pick up a microphone”
Time Out
“Impressive stuff… A comedic high five”
Chortle
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), Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish (Dave); Al Murray’s German Adventure (BBC FOUR), Willie’s Wonky Chocolate Factory (Channel 4), Portillo on Thatcher: The Lady’s Not For Spurning (BBC FOUR), The Alastair Campbell Diaries (BBC TWO), Frank Skinner on George Formby (BBC FOUR), Three Men In A Boat (BBC TWO), The Grumpy Guides to… (BBC TWO), Grumpy Old Men (BBC TWO), Grumpy Old Women (BBC TWO), Why We Went to War (More 4), Real Life: Beating Breast Cancer (ITV1), The Meaning of Life (BBC ONE) and The Widow’s Tale (BBC TWO).
What the press has said about previous Liberty Bell productions:
Dave Gorman: Modern Life is Goodish
“Dave Gorman is a clever and inventive comic… and Modern Life Is Goodish shows why he is so popular.”
Simon Horsford, The Daily Telegraph
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
Al Murray’s German Adventure **
“Murray makes a fine TV historian: interested, articulate and knowledgeable…A breathless hour around a stunning, wintery Germany that will probably leave most viewers wanting more on everything…Al Murray would be our man for the job.”
**Gabrial Tate, Times Out
