Stand-up comedy has been introduced to French TV audiences for the first time.

Although theatre shows by big-name stars are popular there, the country has no tradition of comedy clubs as in Britain and America – and TV comedy tends towards sketch shows.

But now upmarket cable TV station Canal Plus has aired its first line-up of live stand-ups – and it attracted twice the average audience for its early Saturday evening timeslot.

The eight-week run of Jamel Comedy Club, hosted by comic Jamel Debbouze, has unearthed so many new stand-ups, that more half-hour episodes could follow.

Canal Plus’s head of light entertainment, Ara Aprikian, told US trade magazine Variety: ‘French TV humour has traditionally been based on the sketch.

‘But thanks to the popularity of Jamel's stage shows, which are inspired by American stand-up comedians, there are more and more young comics trying their hand at stand-up in small venues.

'Jamel Comedy Club is a way of bringing them to a wider audience, and bringing a new form of humour to French TV.

‘Based on the quality of the first eight shows, I'd say there is enough comedy talent in France to make some more episodes.’