Show promises to 'defy expectations of a traditional panel game'

Channel 4 has ordered a pilot episode of the James Acaster quiz show People Person.

Chortle first revealed the comedian was developing the format for television in February, when he hosted a run-through in London.

Now a one-hour version is to be filmed  – but not aired – to try out the format in which a panel of comedians have to answer questions about a line-up of ordinary people. 

It is based on a game Acaster played on the Dave show Question Team in 2021. 

Then he asked his fellow comics to guess which one of his people  had the biggest garden, the most battery life left on their phones and who the most friends. And for the final question they had to guess who would bring a chocolate bar back to the studio first.

Acaster said: ‘This is more than just a pilot. It's the co-pilot, flight attendants, passengers and the bloke with the paddles on the runway. This is about people. And I'm a people person. Let's do this’

Channel 4 commissioning editor Cimran Shah said the show was a ‘simple, scalable and clever concept with stellar talent attached and a clear opportunity to develop a new generation of channel-defining comedians’

The show is being made by Tuesday’s Child Scotland and Interstellar, which made  Question Team with Screen Scotland helping to finance the pilot.

Executive producer Jamie Ormerod of Interstellar said: ‘Working with James to create this format for Channel 4 is hugely exciting. Expect inventive games and stunts that defy expectations of a traditional panel game and that celebrate the undeniable fact we’re a nation of weirdos. Each, and every one of us.'

Made by: Tuesday’s Child Scotland and Interstellar,
Commissioned for Channel 4 by: Head of reality and entertainment, Steven Handley and commissioning editor
Cimran Shah
Production executive: Colette Magee
Executive producers: Steph Harris, Jamie Ormerod
Series producer: Will Brown

Published: 10 Jun 2024