Marcus Brigstocke hosts

Marcus Brigstocke, who was a regular on ITV's recent News Knight programme, will be hosting the revamped show, while original frontman Ben Elton performs a stand-up set.

Jimmy Carr, Mitchell and Webb, Jocelyn Jee Esien and magician Pete Firman complete the comedy line-up, while the music will be provided by Hard Fi and Bon Jovi.

Producers have chosen more established names for Saturday Live Again! than featured in the Channel 4 original.

The series first ran for 32 shows from 1985 until 1988 (becoming Friday Night Live on the way), and launched the careers of a raft of then-unknown comedians from the new ‘alternative’ comedy circuit, including Harry Enfield, Lee Evans, Julian Clary and Jo Brand. Regulars included Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson as the Dangerous Brothers.

Although the series first ran on Channel 4, its original producer Paul Jackson is now ITV’s director of entertainment and comedy – and he commissioned this new programme. His original co-producer Geoff Posner, who went on to produce Little Britain, is directing it.

Saturday Live Again! is a co-production between ITV Productions and Pozzitive Television and airs on ITV1 on Saturday December 1.

Published: 12 Nov 2007