The news? It's a joke
John Sergeant to host new satire
Former ITN political editor is to host a new topical comedy show for ITV.
The respected newsman is recording a pilot episode of Not Tonight With John Sergeant in West London later this month.
The show, scheduled for Sunday nights, promises to mix real news footage with commentary from comedians and ‘correspondents’.
The whole thing, which appear to ape Jon Stewart’s successful American satire The Daily Show, takes place in a ‘virtual studio’, similar to the one the real ITN News uses.
Sergeant is no stranger to comedy; before embarking on his distinguished 30-year career in TV news he appeared with in the Oxford University revue at the Edinburgh festival, where Alan Bennett recruited him to appear in the acclaimed 1966 BBC satire On The Margin, right.
Since retiring from journalism, he has also made regular appearances on Have I Got News for You and Radio 4’s News Quiz.
See Chortle's Free Tickets page for details of the recording on May 21.
Published: 3 May 2005
