Comedy Central cuts deal with UK comic Russell Howard

The UK Comedy Central channel has agreed a deal with Russell Howard and the popular British comedian will make two new shows for the Viacom-owned channel.

The deal also covers pay TV rights to existing and upcoming series of Rusell Howard’s Good News and four of his stand-up specials.

The Good News series currently goes out on youth-skewed channel BBC Three, but is the upcoming ninth series will transfer to BBC Two as Three transitions to a web-only service.

One of the new shows will be an as yet untitled new stand-up show from Howard and additional acts. Comedy Central has ordered three 10x30mins series with the first going into production later this year. It will debut on Comedy Central UK next year.

The second commission is billed as an ‘adventure comedy’ that will follow Howard on his first tour of the US. Comedy Central has greenlit two 6x30mins runs of the show. Production and transmission will take place in 2016.

Jill Offman, MD Comedy Central UK & SVP Comedy VIMN, said: “Ever since I saw Russell Howard’s live stand up show five years ago, it has been my dream to get him on Comedy Central.  To be able to broadcast his work across several genres:  an exclusive stand-up series from here in Camden [UK], comedy travelogues, his popular stand-up and the library for Russell Howard’s Good News is great news for us and our viewers, plus it further demonstrates our commitment to UK content.”

The deal was agreed by Comedy Central, comedy producer and distributor Avalon and Howard. Louise Holmes, vice president, programming brokered the deal for Comedy Central.