Alternative Comedy Experience to return

Stewart Lee to curate second series

The Alternative Comedy Experience is to return for a second series.

Comedy Central has ordered another 12 half-hour episodes, which will again be curated by Stewart Lee.

Production on the second series has already begun, with the likes of Michael Legge and Liam Mullone joining first series regulars like Tony Law, Josie Long, Simon Munnery, Bridget Christie, Paul Foot and David Kay.

The new episodes will follow the same format with offbeat comics performing at The Stand comedy club in Edinburgh, with their routines intercut with footage of them being interviewed by Lee.

Further names will be announced when The Stand releases tickets for the recordings later this week. The shows will be taped from July 8 to 12, and are scheduled to air from February 2014.

Chortle understands that there will be an approximately 50/50 split between 'new' acts and returning comics from the first series, which finished earlier this month.

The Alternative Comedy Experience has been a hit for Comedy Central, exceeding average audience figures for its slot.

Before the first series, Lee told Chortle: 'We believe these acts are all inherently worthwhile, whether they end up filling the O2 and lining David Cameron’s DVD shelf or not. They advance the form of stand-up comedy, consolidate its strengths, and are the sort of people that have no other choice but to be comedians.

'They discover, develop and maintain the new routes that perhaps better known names then simplify into stadium-filling styles. You’ve been distracted by the pretty blooms for too long. We have done our best to show you where some of the real work is being done.' - by Jay Richardson

Published: 30 Apr 2013

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