New round of online commissions

Sofie Hagen and Fin Taylor are to star in new series of shorts commissioned by Comedy Central.

Hagen will be sharing intimate anecdotes with fellow comedian friends in Sofie’s Sex Stories while Taylor will be playing Bullshit Bingo on topical issues in his six-part series.

‘This is a topical game show where the real-life contestants don’t even realise they’re playing, and where I get the opportunity to humorously call them out on their performative, cliché-ridden, social media-politics,’ Taylor said.

Meanwhile, the tales in Hagen’s show will be told through various media: such as through a puppet show, animation and live-action acting.

The broadcaster also announced two anthology series:  Modern Horror Stories parodying ‘utterly ridiculous’ first world issues; and What I Wish I’d Said, in which comedians get to relive a shameful moment, but this time reply with the perfect choice of words they wish they had said. 

The pilot episode starring Huffington Post writer Sophie Duker is currently available on Facebook. The  series will run to six five-minute episodes.

Comedy Central is also piloting Made Up News another short-form topical show featuring ‘anchors, correspondents and guests you can trust’ – although none of the talent  involved has yet been named.

And it has commissioned a second series of Josh Investigates  featuring South African YouTuber Josh Pieters. Topics featuring in the six new shorts include feminism, artificial intelligence, and whether anyone is really interested in politics.

Comedy Central executive Claire McArdle said it was important ‘to identify the next generation of rising talent and give them a place to grow’.

Published: 15 Mar 2018