Probing his guests' musical tastes

James Acaster is to host a music series for BBC Three.

Sounds Random is based on the comedian's Fubar Radio show, in which guests must defend the guilty pleasures on their iPod.

Described as 'part-chat show, part-music video', the 15-part series of short videos will feature the four-times Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee interviewing acts including Billy Bragg, Scroobius Pip, Mystery Jets, Wolf Alice, Izzy Bizu, Tom Parker from The Wanted and Vanessa White from The Saturdays.

Acaster, who began his performing career as a drummer, pledges to get to the heart of what each song means to his guests.

Songs are picked at random using the device's shuffle mode – then the guest will discuss what emotions and memories each song triggers. Each episode will end with a choreographed dance routine inspired by the chat, such as the one pictured here:

Comedy/Contemporary Dance with James Acaster 😻😝💪 - kitty claws pic.twitter.com/WO4AUSnpud

— Lee B (@LeeB_official) November 12, 2015

Acaster said: 'This is a fascinating series to film as our guests have nowhere to hide. They can't ignore their guilty pleasures if that's what the device selects, and the emotions that individual songs evoke are evident in their initial reactions as soon as they hear the opening chords.'

Sounds Random will be available online from Monday.

Executive producer Iain Wimbrush said: 'This is Desert Island Discs without limits – and without a desert island. There will be no skipping or rewinding, whatever the music player chooses, they will talk about.'

Sohail Shah, assistant commissioner for BBC Entertainment, added: 'If you've ever wondered what your favourite music acts are listening to, James Acaster is going to tell you in his own inimitable way. You'll be surprised at what you see and hear in Sounds Random.'

Acaster, who is currently performing in New Zealand, recently finished shooting the second series of his web series Sweet Home Ketteringa in Lahnstein in Germany, Kettering's twin town. The six new crowdfunded episodes are due for release in July.

Sounds Random was commissioned by Shah and BBC Three controller Damian Kavanagh. It is directed by The Revolution Will Not Be Televised's Dan Lucchesi and produced by Russell Brand's regular collaborator Gareth Roy for Phil McIntyre Television and Rumpus Media, whose shows include Romesh Ranganathan's Asian Provocateur and An Immigrant's Guide To Britain with Henning Wehn.

- by Jay Richardson

Published: 22 Apr 2016