Taking on challenges set by his social media followers

Paul Black is to make a ‘raucous’ TV show in which his social media followers set him ‘wild’ challenges.

A pilot of the as-yet-untitled programme has been commissioned for BBC Scotland from independent production house Tern Television.

According to the show’s description, the comedian ‘has grown bored of his mighty and ever-growing influencing powers’ on social media, so will be ‘handing the reins over to the public for this raucous comedy roadshow, which will see him take on an array of wild challenges set by his social media followers.’

David Marshall, head of entertainment at the production company, says: ‘For years now, Paul has been moulding the masses and making them laugh, like, and share the love featured in his content. 

‘But now he will be handing his influencing powers over to his followers (aka strangers on the internet) and getting them to set him ludicrous challenges – all in the interest of generating some hilarious content. 

‘We are thrilled to be working with Paul and helping to bring his idiosyncratic comedy stylings to new audiences.’

The comic has 232,000 followers on TikTok; 114,000 on Instagram and 76,000 on X – developing a following that enabled him to perform his live show Self Care Era at the 3,000-capacity SEC Armadillo in Glasgow last year.

Last New Year's Eve, Black wrote and starred in First Footing, a comedy whodunnit special for BBC Scotland, and back in 2019 he and his  brother and sometime collaborator Mark Black starred in the sketch series  Pity Party for the broadcaster.

He has also reportedly been working on a semi-autobiographical BBC Three sitcom pilot about a man dealing with grief. He told The National newspaper in Scotland: ‘It explores how complicated grief can be, especially when you don't feel the way you're maybe supposed to feel about it. It's like therapy, exploring these themes through writing.’

The new programme was commissioned by Steve Allen and Louise Thornton for BBC Scotland. It is produced and directed by Rod Tamime and executive produced by David Marshall 

Published: 22 Nov 2023