The new five-part comedy series will film as live from Dublin’s Olympia Theatre next year and will see a mixture of big name comedy stars along with some fresh new talent join Irish comedian Deirdre O’Kane on stage.
The new series will be produced by entertainment powerhouse Kite, the team behind hits such as Gogglebox Ireland, Ireland’s Fittest Family, Ireland’s Got Talent and more recently Copper Face Jacks: The Musical and is expected to air on Sky next autumn.
Tickets for the week long run of shows are expected to go on sale through Ticketmaster next year.
Speaking about the newly announced series, Deirdre O’Kane, said:
“I’ve been sitting on this news since January and now it’s beginning to feel very real. I can’t wait to get started. We’re chatting to some big names and it’s always a thrill to work with the best in the business. Bring it on!”
JD Buckley, Chief Executive Officer, Sky Ireland, said:
“We’re thrilled to be teaming up with Kite to bring a big stand-up show from Dublin hosted by the brilliant Deirdre O’Kane and joined by a host of guests who will no doubt raise the roof.”
Phil Edgar Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Sky’s Head of Entertainment, said:
“Deidre O’Kane is one funny woman - ever since her star turn in the brilliant Moone Boy we’ve been wanting to create a show around her unique talents and made entirely in Ireland. We are thrilled to pieces that she’ll bring us this exciting and fabulously funny new show direct from the Olympia Theatre.”
Darren Smith, Managing Director of Kite Entertainment, said:
“At Kite stand-up comedy has always been our first love so to be working on this series with Deirdre, who is one of Kite’s best friends, feels absolutely perfect. And to be doing it for Sky One with their insistence that Irish talent is front and centre both on and off camera makes it the kind of green light Irish indies dream of.”
Sky partnered with Kite last year following a commissioning callout to the Irish Independent production sector to find and fund the next Irish produced hit for Sky One.
The €2m content fund builds on Sky’s previous investment in Irish productions with the success of homegrown shows like the International Emmy Award winning Moone Boy and the three-series hit, 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy and is part of Sky’s commitment to invest in local production in each of its territories, with cross-over appeal to Sky customers across Europe.
In a further move into comedy, Sky will launch a new comedy channel within its entertainment portfolio. Sky Comedy, will launch in February 2020 and will be the home of premium scripted US comedy from HBO, NBC and Showtime, including brand new acclaimed comedies like Mrs Fletcher, starring Kathryn Hahn, The Righteous Gemstones, starring John Goodman, Adam DeVine and Danny McBride, A.P. Bio and Sunnyside.
Sky Comedy will also air all new series of returning hit US shows like Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and Ballers starring Dwayne Johnson. Top rated US talk shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver will also be featured, as well as comedy titan Saturday Night Live and an enviable library of favourites like Will & Grace and Parks and Recreation.
