BBC’s Mock The Week to return on new channel and fans don’t have long to wait

Four years after it was cancelled by the BBC, Mock The Week is set to make a comeback with Dara Ó Briain and Hugh Dennis returning to host

Mock The Week fans have received welcome news with the programme’s comeback date officially confirmed as presenter Dara Ó Briain revives the show four years following its BBC exit.

The satirical panel show, which initially aired from 2005 to 2022 and featured Dara alongside regular panellist Hugh Dennis in every instalment, is poised for a spectacular comeback on TLC with fresh hour-long episodes.

The anticipation won’t last much longer, as the programme returns to our television screens from Sunday, February 1. TLC has also revealed the lineup joining Dara for this series.

Across nine episodes, audiences will witness beloved personalities including Hugh, Rhys James, Sara Pascoe, Ed Byrne, Katherine Ryan, and Russell Howard.

Additional confirmed participants feature Angela Barnes, Milton Jones, Lou Sanders, Ellie Taylor, Ahir Shah, and Glenn Moore, with further announcements still to come. The revitalised programme will preserve numerous elements from the initial format, reports Wales Online.

Fans can anticipate the comeback of segments such as ‘If this is the answer, what is the question?’ ‘Wheel of News’, ‘Picture of the Week’, and ‘Scenes We’d Like to See’. Furthermore, there will be completely fresh segments for the programme’s loyal followers to savour.

Graham Lafferty, SVP Content Strategy and Networks, WBD UK and Ireland, shared his enthusiasm regarding the programme’s comeback: “With a move to broad entertainment, we are excited to programme both scripted and unscripted content on TLC, bringing viewers everything from The Big Bang Theory to Mock the Week in 2026.

“The return of Mock the Week is something we are hugely excited by, and we hope fans of the show will enjoy more of what they loved with new one.”

With Dara Ó Briain back at the helm and a line-up featuring some of the nation’s best-loved comedians, the show promises to deliver hour-long episodes packed with laughs. The show’s comeback on TLC was first announced in October 2025.

However, it was previously disclosed in August 2022 that Mock The Week was axed after a 17-year run to pave the way for fresh programming. At the time, Dara quipped: “That’s it folks, the UK has finally run out of news. The storylines were getting crazier and crazier – global pandemics, divorce from Europe, novelty short-term prime ministers. It couldn’t go on.

“And so, regretfully, we are closing the doors on Dara and Hugh’s Academy for Baby Comedians. We just couldn’t be more silly than the news was already.”

He wrapped up by saying: “Huge thanks to all our guests over the years, so many of whom went on to huge successes of their own, and never write or call. It was a joy!”

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The BBC issued a statement confirming: “The next series of Mock The Week will be the last, we are really proud of the show but after 21 series we have taken the difficult decision in order to create room for new shows.

“We would like to thank Angst Productions, host Dara O’Briain, panellist Hugh Dennis and all the guest comedians involved in the show across the 21 series.”

Angst Productions, the firm behind the show, voiced their disappointment: “We’re naturally hugely disappointed that Mock The Week is coming to an end and hope that we will be able to resurface somewhere some day in the future.

“However, the last 17 years on BBC Two have been an absolute blast. It’s been a great privilege to work closely with scores of truly incredible performers and we’d also like to take the opportunity to thank the BBC and all our many fans around the world for their support over the years.”

Mock of the Week will return on Sunday, February 1 on TLC