“Unspun has quickly established itself as the official opposition to mainstream political debate with its smart mix of comedy, satire and debate – not only attracting big laughs but some of the biggest names in British politics onto the show” Tim Glanfield, Radio Times
Following a Best Entertainment Programme nomination from the Broadcast Digital Awards, Unspun With Matt Forde returns to Dave with an extra three episodes commissioned, starting from Sunday 28th January at 10pm. For the first time this highly topical political comedy chat show recorded on the same evening of transmission will also have an extended in-depth version, Unspun XL with Matt Forde, put out on the channel later that week, taking the run to 8×30′ and 8×60′.
Matt Forde said, “One of the great benefits of the impending global recession, rising sea levels and a nuclear war is that I get to sit behind a desk and make snarky comments about it all and I think we’d all agree that’s a price worth paying”
The former Labour Advisor turned stand-up comedian will once again offer his sharp take on breaking news and current affairs alongside delving in to the more human side of Britain’s leading political figures through in-studio interviews. Over the last three series, Matt has enjoyed guests including Tony Blair impersonating an Italian Prime Minister’s reaction to a fatal lase of diplomacy involving a pizza tie, Harriet Harman pinpointing previous shadow health minister Robin Cook totally misconstruing a trip to the cinema with her children for a jaunt at the other end of the spectrum and Anne Widdicombe opening up about joining an altogether different pantomime featuring Basil Brush after leaving Parliament. In addition to Matt tackling some of the biggest stories in politics including EU divorce bills, Westminster hatches and dispatches and the impending impeachment of Donald Trump (the last one might be wishful thinking), he’ll also be joined by special guest comedians to unpick the week’s events and no episode would be complete without the backing of the country’s only rock band made up of current and former politicians, MP4.
Richard Watsham, UKTV director of commissioning, said, “I’m pleased to be supersizing Unspun with two TXs a week so that the show’s loyal and growing fan base can get even more brilliant satire from the talented Matt Forde. We’re proud to be making something funny and intelligent that is unlike anything else on British TV.”
Luke Hales, Dave channel director, said, “We know Dave viewers are hugely engaged with the world of politics, and it’s great for the channel that we can be so topical with such an informed and entertaining comedian as Matt at the helm.”
Jon Thoday, Avalon managing director, said, “We are delighted to be working with UKTV once again on Unspun. It is great to see a British broadcaster allowing boundaries to be pushed with political comedy and giving Matt even more freedom to delve into the ever-changing landscape of global politics.”
Series four of Unspun with Matt Forde is ordered by Richard Watsham and Steve North, genre general manager, comedy and entertainment. Executive producers for UKTV are senior commissioning editor Iain Coyle and commissioning executive Joe McVey, and Jon Thoday and Richard Allen Turner for Avalon Television. The news follows another hugely successful year for Dave’s UKTV Original commissions, with returning favourites such as BAFTA and Emmy-nominated Taskmaster – which aired a Champions of Champions special last month – Red Dwarf XII, Dave Gorman’s Modern Life Is Goodish and Zapped, alongside brand new Porters, The Joy of Techs, Eat Your Heart out with Nick Helm and Ross Noble: Off Road. In 2018 Dave will also be airing Yianni: Supercar Customiser and series three of Dara O Briain’s Go 8 Bit as well as more live boxing in association with Hayemaker Ringstar.
Unspun with Matt Forde starts Sunday, 28th January at 10pm.
Unspun XL with Matt Forde starts Wednesday 31st January at 11pm.
Series 1-3 of Unspun With Matt Forde are available to watch now on UKTVPlay
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What the Press has said about Unspun with Matt Forde:
“Proving that politics doesn’t have to be as dull as ditchwater and that there is still a place for informed satire, Matt Forde is back with a series that in its first season last year proved to be both funny and intellectually literate…Forde consistently demonstrates he has his finger on the pulse as he interviews leading political figures”
★★★★ Mark Wareham, Mail On Sunday
“Dave has pulled off a coup by getting Matt Forde to present this topical programme, fresh from his success at the Edinburgh Festival…a political show for people who find political shows boring. Forde does impressions, interviews MPs and tries to make sense of a world that makes no sense”
David Chester, The Times
“Can I warmly recommend Unspun With Matt Forde. Up-to-the-minute, witty, yes, funny (which means laughter if it’s been too long), Forde has the knack of dealing with a serious subject and getting some excellent gags”
David Stephenson, Sunday Express
“The show attracts a high calibre of guest … expect overarching joviality”
Michael Hogan, Daily Telegraph
“[Matt’s] interview with Tony Blair was deservedly acclaimed”
Andrew Mueller, Guardian Guide
#Unspun @DaveChannel
For more information please contact:
Victoria Wedderburn and Sian Docksey on 020 7598 7222
or email [email protected] or [email protected]
or Ben Duncan and Tessa Matchett
[email protected] or [email protected]
Notes To Editors
About Dave
Sky 111/246, Virgin 128/194, Freeview 12, BT & TalkTalk 12 On demand on Sky, Virgin and UKTV Play
About UKTV
UKTV is a commercial broadcaster reaching over 40m viewers every month.
The award-winning independent has eleven imaginative brands – UKTV Play, Dave, W, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food. These include the two most popular non-PSB channels in the UK and account for nearly 10% of the British commercial TV market. The network delivers inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat, Amazon Fire and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories. Now celebrating over 20 years 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 first British television broadcaster in The Sunday Times top 100 companies list.
corporate.uktv.co.uk / press.uktv.co.uk / @uktv_press
About Avalon Television
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 2017 Avalon was 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), 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 currently in production include: The Button (BBC One), Taskmaster USA (Comedy Central), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky One), Man Down (C4), Dave Gorman’s Modern Life is Goodish (Dave/UKTV), The Chris Ramsey Show (Comedy Central), and Stand Up Central with Chris Ramsey (Comedy Central); 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
