BBC axes stand-up showcase after 22 years

The BBC is axing Live at the Apollo after 22 years.

The stand-up showcase has been a rite of passage for waves of comedians, but has now fallen foul of budget cuts at the broadcaster.

Blankety Blank and Celebrity Mastermind – both of which also give exposure to comedians – will also be axed as part of plans to save £100million a year from the BBC’s content spend. 

One further series of  Live At The Apollo - the 21st - has yet to broadcast.

However the BBC has promised to unveil ‘digital plans focused on stand-up and emerging comedy talent’ in its place.

A spokesman said: ‘We are incredibly proud of all three of these much-loved shows and would like to thank everyone involved, both in front of and behind the camera, for bringing them to screen and making them such a success over many years. 

‘Unfortunately, we have to make some really tough choices in light of our funding challenges, and these savings have been identified from the entertainment genre.

‘We will still continue to commission ambitious entertainment shows and invest in distinctive UK content… as well as prioritising digital innovation that can serve fans of these shows and beyond.

‘For example, we will shortly be announcing digital plans focused on stand-up and emerging comedy talent, ensuring we continue to support the stand-up community in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive media landscape.’ 

Recorded at the Hammersmith Apollo in West London, Jack Dee hosted the first two series for BBC One  in 2004 and 2005 before handing over to guest comperes.

The show got a major boost in 2008 when it was rescheduled from Monday nights to Fridays to replace Jonathan Ross’s talk show following his suspension in the wake of the Sachsgate row.  After hosting the first episode in the new slot, Michael McIntyre was given his own show with a similar format: Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow.

At its peak – a December 2009 show featuring Rhod Gilbert and John Bishop – Live At The Apollo attracted 6.29million viewers. However in  2015 it moved to BBC Two.

The cancellation of Live At The Apollo follows the 2022 axing of Mock The Week, which was revived by the TLC channel earlier this year.

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Published: 29 Jul 2026