SCREEN? CHECK. CLICKER? CHECK. SHIRT? DEFINTIELY CHECK. U&DAVE (AND BOXSET ON U) FROM 24TH FEBRUARY.
“As much a lecture as traditional stand-up, and features original journalism… Gorman makes me laugh. He also tells me stuff I don’t know… The show was a little tour de force, terrific-ish.”
★★★★
Andrew Billen, The Times
“His fine observations and crafted running jokes will soon have you snorting… Dave’s website (Dave the channel, not Gorman himself) has an archive of several seasons of this hidden jewel.”
Jack Seale, Radio Times
“He handles his audience like a DJ at a club, beginning with a thoughtful set about guilty pleasures… before building to a story about a complicated trick he once played on a know-all friend known as Micki Pedia, the punchline of which has the audience gasp with delight.”
Victoria Segal, Sunday Times Culture
Dave Gorman, stand-up comedian and “high priest of comedy PowerPoint” (The Times) returns to UKTV after a seven-year hiatus with three brand-new specials for the critically acclaimed and ratings hit, Dave Gorman Modern Life Is Goodish (3×60’).
Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish ran for five series on Dave, attracting 1.5 million viewers per episode at its peak and was one of UKTV’s longest running and successful original commissions. Armed with a computer, clicker and checked shirt, Dave casts an eye over modern life in his own unique style combining stand-up, visual storytelling, and real-world experimentation. In these mischievous comedy performances, Dave turns his attention to the areas of everyday life we normally take for granted – scrutinising the absurdities and contradictions that continue to fascinate and infuriate him. In this series probing modern life’s follies… fake search engines, big tech’s rules, a reinvention of the alphabet, a battle with an online nemesis, assistance from an entertainment legend, AI, honesty in TV, leaving London and notions of ‘celebrity’ all get the Goodish treatment.
Speaking about bringing the show back, Dave said, “I’m delighted to be getting back in the Goodish saddle. It’s been 7 years since I hung up my Modern Life Is Goodish clicker and in that time, life has definitely got 7 years moderner – so there should be plenty to get my teeth into.”
Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish is produced by Avalon, commissioned for UKTV by Mark Iddon, senior commissioning executive, comedy and entertainment, and ordered by Cherie Hall, Dave channel director and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning. It is directed by Paul Wheeler and series produced by James Fidler. The executive producers are Jamie Issacs and Dave Gorman.
Dave Gorman’s live career has seen him sell out multiple tours of the UK, perform three runs off Broadway in New York, tour the USA, and become responsible for the fastest selling show in the history of the Studio Theatre at The Sydney Opera House. Live performances have also earned him the title of Best One Person Show at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival (twice), as well as nominations for the Edinburgh Comedy Award (Perrier Award), the South Bank Award and two nominations for the prestigious American Drama Desk Award.
Episode billings:
Ep 1 – Twelve is the Number We Do Things In (Monday 24th February, 9pm U&Dave)
Screen? Check. Clicker? Check. Shirt? Definitely Check. Dave’s back in a sixth series probing modern life’s follies: fake search engines, big tech’s rules – and a wager that goes too far.
Ep 2 – That’s Why Seas Are Salty (Monday 3rd March, 9pm U&Dave)
Dave Gorman and his iconic big screen are back, exploring the absurdities of modern life. Dave reinvents the alphabet, battles an online nemesis and is assisted by an entertainment legend.
Ep 3 – Britain is Also an Island (Monday 10th March, 9pm U&Dave)
Dave Gorman’s inquisitive mind takes on more quirks of modern life in this sixth series. Tonight AI, honesty in TV, leaving London and notions of ‘celebrity’ all get the Goodish treatment.
More praise for Dave Gorman Modern Life Is Goodish…
“This deceptively simple series, in which Dave Gorman gives illustrated lectures on myriad elements of everyday existence, is one of the Dave channel’s biggest hits, probably because Gorman is such a funny and affable person to spend an hour with.”
★★★★
Boyd Hilton, Heat
“TV Gold: brilliantly-observed… and is naturally very funny.”
Ally Ross, The Sun
“Dave Gorman is a clever and inventive comic… and Modern Life Is Goodish shows why he is so popular.”
Simon Horsford, 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
“Modern life is neither good nor bad. This is the argument Dave Gorman has made repeatedly since 2013 – and we’re still hanging on his every word.”
Sara Wallis, Daily Mirror
“It’s a sort of cutting-edge documentary-slash-stand-up hybrid, with Gorman offering genius gags aplenty.”
Rachel Aroesti, The Guardian
-ends-
For more information, please contact:
Jasmine Ruparelia at Avalon [email protected]
Dan Lloyd at Avalon [email protected]
Ben Duncan [email protected]
Neelam Rhodes [email protected]
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands – Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday – span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers.
UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UK’s most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world’s leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.
corporate.uktv.co.uk | press.uktv.co.uk | @uktvpress
About Avalon
Avalon is a multi-award-winning talent management, television production and live promotion group with offices in London, Los Angeles and New York. Avalon, Artists Rights Group and The Agency together represent a diverse and distinctive roster of artists including actors, comedians, writers and directors, among them Academy Award, BAFTA, Emmy, Tony and Olivier Award-winners. Avalon is the UK’s largest true independent television production company, with over 40 shows in production in the last year including: hit entertainment format Taskmaster (Channel 4 in the UK, Network 10 in Australia, TV4 in Sweden, TVNorge/Discovery+ in Norway); Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO); Starstruck (HBO Max/BBC); Not Going Out (BBC), the UK’s longest running sitcom on air; Breeders (FX/Sky); and Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly (Channel 5). Avalon has produced over 4,000 episodes of hit programming for audiences in the UK, US and around the world, winning over 30 Emmy Awards and BAFTAs from 100+ nominations.
Other landmark Avalon shows include Catastrophe (Amazon/Channel 4), Flatbush Misdemeanors (Showtime), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky), TV Burp (ITV), and the cult classic workplace sitcom Workaholics (Comedy Central). Avalon has also produced over 60 comedy specials for various platforms including Amazon, HBO, Netflix and Sky, as well as numerous podcasts and radio shows, including the UK’s second most popular podcast, Shagged. Married. Annoyed. with Chris & Rosie Ramsey. Avalon’s dedicated distribution arm licenses its catalogue of programmes and formats to over 200 territories worldwide. Avalon also produces and promotes live comedy around the world and has promoted more winners and nominees of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award than any other company. Avalon produced Newman and Baddiel: Live at Wembley, the UK’s first arena comedy show, Jerry Springer: The Opera, winner of four Olivier Awards, and is currently producing Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical in the West End, winner of two Olivier Awards including Best New Musical in 2024, as well as Taskmaster: The Live Experience, a new London visitor attraction based on the TV show.
For Avalon news visit: www.avalonuk.com/press or follow @avalonent
