Russell Howard leaves Mock The Week
...for four episodes, at least
Russell Howard will not be appearing on most of the rest of this series of Mock The Week, the BBC has announced.The Dara O’Briain-fronted panel show returns from its six-week summer break on Thursday for the final six episodes in series nine.
But Howard, who has been a regular panelist since January 2007, will miss all but the first and last of the new programmes.
The corporation blamed ‘his extensive BBC work commitments – not least his wildly popular BBC Three series Russell Howard's Good News’ for his absence.
Howard joked: ‘I love being part of Mock The Week but I wanted to quash the persistent rumours that Dara and I inappropriately share a dressing room by taking a break until they blow over.’
Among the names lined up for the next six weeks are most of the comics from Channel 4’s Stand Up For The Week – Andi Osho, Kevin Bridges and Jack Whitehall – as well as Milton Jones, Chris Addison, Ed Byrne, and Edinburgh Comedy Award-winner Russell Kane.
Howard will also be returning for the Christmas special.
His absence comes a year after founding panelist Frankie Boyle announced he was quitting the show.
Published: 7 Sep 2010
