Legendary BBC comedy show returning to screens next year 20 years on from first ever episode

LEGENDARY BBC comedy show Live at the Apollo is returning to BBC Two next year as the show celebrates 20 years since its first ever episode. 

Live at the Apollo has featured some of the U.K. best and brightest comedians and it will be back next year to shine a light on the best that stand-up has to offer. 

Next year marks 20 years since the BBC comedy show first launched. It will return to celebrate the anniversary next year and continue into 2025 with another brand new series. 

Since launching in 2004 as Jack Dee Live at the Apollo, as the show was originally called, it has been instrumental in building the careers of some of Britain’s biggest comedy stars from Michael McIntyre to John Bishop, Mo Gilligan to Katherine Ryan. 

It has also featured such household names and comedy legends such as Joan Rivers, Romesh Ranganathan, Sarah Pascoe, Rob Brydon, Kevin Bridges, Lee Mack, Alan Carr, Nish Kumar, Sir Lenny Henry, Jack Whitehall, Eddie Izzard, Tom Allen, Sarah Millican and Nina Conti.

Live at the Apollo has so far aired more than 100 episodes and is highly regarded as the gold-standard for stand-up comedy on TV.

Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC, said: “We are very proud that we will be making two more series of Live at the Apollo, which provides a platform for fresh and experienced comedians to showcase themselves. 

“The show has consistently delivered the finest comedy talents to our viewers, and we are excited to keep bringing fresh and hilarious stand-up acts for all to enjoy.”

As it makes its return, the critically acclaimed show will continue to showcase the best in stand-up comedy while highlighting the diverse breadth and depth of UK comedy talent, as well as introducing the audience to the next generation of future stars.

Both series will consist of six regular episodes and a Christmas special and will be filmed at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2024 and 2025, where comedians will perform to a packed house of 3,500 people.

Alongside the BBC, the comedy show is executive produced by Andrew Beint of Open Mike Productions, and the series producer is Anthony Caveney.

Speaking about the project, Andrew commented: “Open Mike are thrilled that Live At The Apollo will air for two more series on the BBC in 2024 and 2025.  

“We will continue to introduce viewers to some of the funniest homegrown and international stand-up comedic talent currently working in today’s comedy industry, and cannot wait to have the future comedy super stars of tomorrow perform in front of the famous Live At the Apollo lights.”

New episodes of Live at the Apollo will premiere in 2024.