Signing US comic marks another departure

American comic Chelsea Handler has signed a deal with Netflix to launch a new talk show, available to British subscribers.

The move marks a departure for the streaming service into near-live programming, as opposed to box-set-style releases.

The deal also includes several stand-up specials, including her current tour Uganda Be Kidding Me, which will be taped in Chicago on Friday. The show comes to the London Palladium on July 12.

Four new 'docu-comedy specials' on NASCAR motor racing, politics, technology and baseball will be filmed for Netflix in 2015, with the new talk show set to debut on all Netflix's global territories in 2016.

Handler is quitting her current late night talk show, Chelsea Lately, his summer after publicly stating how unhappy she was at the E! channel.

Confirming the new shows, Handler said: 'If I was going to continue working in this industry, I knew I had to do something outside the box to keep myself interested.

'I wanted to sit with the cool kids at lunch so I approached Netflix to make sure they were as cool as I thought they were, and when I confirmed my suspicions, like with any other future lover, I made my move.

'I’m more excited than I’ve been in a while, and the team at Netflix is the most forward thinking, alert group I’ve sat down with in ages.'

Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos added: 'The internet has disrupted many of the conventions of traditional television and together with Chelsea Handler, Netflix is looking forward to reimagining the late night talk show for the on-demand generation, starting with the late night part.'

Published: 19 Jun 2014