TLC renews Dara Ó Briain panel show

The revived Mock The Week has been commissioned for a second series

Hosted by Dara Ó Briain, the topical panel show returned to British screens in February 2026 after a four-year absence, with one-hour episodes airing on TLC. 

The free-to-air channel says overnight audiences have averaged more than 600,000 viewers, rising to more than a million when including repeats across the week.

The new series will run to 11 hour-long episodes, including Christmas and end-of-year specials, and will again feature Rhys James as a series regular alongside a rotating cast of guest comedians. 

Ó Briain said: ‘What? Another series? I thought we’d solved all the world’s problems in this series. Oh, all right. Bring me more news.’

The show is made by Angst Productions. Executive producer Dan Patterson said the one-hour format had given the programme room to breathe. ‘It’s giving us the additional time and freedom to dig into a news agenda that continues to deliver and introduce new rounds which have been a real success. 

‘With Dara and Rhys at the helm, and the usual array of top comedic talent set to join the show, we look forward to bringing more episodes to TLC later this year.’

Mock the Week originally ran on BBC Two from 2005 to 2022, when it was cancelled after 17 series. 

Graham Lafferty, who oversees content strategy at Warner Bros. Discovery UK and Ireland, said the show’s performance had exceeded expectations. 

‘Mock the Week has been a huge success with premiere audiences on TLC averaging over 600K,’ he said. ‘We are thrilled that host Dara Ó Briain will be back with Rhys James as a series regular, alongside a number of the great comedians that have made this new-look series such a success.’

The second series was ordered by Lafferty and commissioned by Charlotte Reid for Warner Bros. Discovery UK and Ireland.

TLC also today announced a new panel show, Unacceptable, hosted by Ed Gamble with Richard Ayoade and Joanne McNally as team captains.

The channel has also ordered Zero Stars, a series fronted by Roisin Conaty and Sara Pascoe, though full details of that show have yet to be announced.

Published: 5 Mar 2026