The Weakest Link

Romesh Ranganathan stands at the podium wearing a red Father Christmas hat
Romesh Ranganathan (Image: BBC Studios)
BBC One and BBC iPlayer

Romesh Ranganathan brings his festive cheer to a star-studded Christmas Special of The Weakest Link. Eight celebrities will initially have to work together to try to win up to £50,000 for their individual chosen charity, in one of the world’s most iconic quizzes. Each round, one player will be voted The Weakest Link by their fellow contestants and will leave with nothing.

One player will be crowned The Strongest Link and will take the prize ho-ho-home! The festive line up is Alex Jones, Cliff Parisi, Coleen Nolan, Dane Baptiste, Mel Schilling, Danny Beard, Paul Zerdin and Meryl Williams.

The Weakest Link is a BBC Studios production (16 x 45’) for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. It was commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC. The Executive Producers for BBC Studios are Pete Ogden and Gareth Edwards, and the Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Neil McCallum.

GS

Dawn French is a huge TW*T

Dawn French performs on stage, looking animated
Dawn French (Image: BBC/Phil McIntyre Live/Marc Brenner)
BBC One and BBC iPlayer

Live (almost) from London’s iconic Palladium theatre, the nation’s favourite comedy star, Dawn French is about to reveal (almost) all the most excruciating gaffes and howlers she’s made across her forty-year career as a comedian and actress. Dawn likes a laugh, and she likes it best of all when the laugh is on her. Her new one-woman show is more than just stand-up. This is the ultimate, ‘Oh my god! You’ll never guess what Dawn did!’ show – as everyone’s favourite fictional lady vicar takes us through her career in comedy while simultaneously, laying bare her imperfections through massive landmarks of her life.

Playing to a full house at the Palladium, Dawn weaves together the highs and lows of her life through her self-confessed ‘stupid mistakes or misunderstandings.’ These excruciatingly buttock-clenching embarrassing stories give the audience a peek behind the scenes of her glittering career in comedy.

Packed with showbiz anecdotes and celebrity stories, from an epic fail in front of Sir Kenneth of the Branagh, to a toe-curling Abba audition for a once in a life-time part in Mamma Mia.

And even though this is a ‘one-woman show,’ we also get to enjoy a treasure trove of classic clips from her forty years in comedy – from early performances on The Comic Strip, to unforgettable French & Saunders sketches, plus an abundance of personal unseen photographs that take us on a journey through the life and times of this award-winning actor, best-selling novelist, and all-round very funny lady.

Dawn French is a huge TW*T (1 x 75′) is a Phil McIntyre Television Production acquired for BBC One and BBC iPlayer by BBC Entertainment. The Executive Producers for Phil McIntyre are Lucy Ansbro and Maureen Vincent and the Producer is Lindsay Jex. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Katie Taylor.

CM2

QI

Alan Davies, Jo Brand, Sandi Toksvig, Eshaan Akbar and Jimmy Carr in the QI studio, standing around a giant block of ice, shaped like a magnifying glass, with a letter i at the centre
Left to right: Alan Davies, Jo Brand, Sandi Toksvig, Eshaan Akbar and Jimmy Carr
BBC Two and BBC iPlayer

Don your ugly jumpers to celebrate Christmas with QI’s Yuletide special! Sandi Toksvig and Alan Davies are joined by comedians Eshaan Akbar, Jo Brand and Jimmy Carr to unwrap their favourite festive facts from under the tree. They’ll uncover Santa Claus’ whereabouts, why horses make excellent party guests, and why there always seems to be room for Christmas pudding – plus Sandi showcases her super-cool, cutting-edge hidden talent.

“All I Want For Christmas Is U” kicks off the brand new series of QI in the New Year, showing the more unusual and unbelievable side of our universe, all under the umbrella of the letter “U”.

QI is a joint production between QI Ltd and FremantleMedia Ltd. Produced by Talkback a Fremantle label (15 x 29’ and 15 x 45’ and 2 x 29’ comps) for BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. The Executive Producers are Jonno Richards for Talkback and John Lloyd for QI Ltd, and the Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Sarah Clay.