Russell Howard is to miss some forthcoming recordings of Mock The Week due to other filming commitments, but has quashed internet rumours he is quitting the show.

Howard will appear in the first episode in the new series of Mock The Week which begins on Thursday, as well as the final episode and a Christmas special, but he is unable to make the other recordings as he is filming other programmes, including a new series of his hit topical comedy show Russell Howard's Good News for BBC Three.

In a light-hearted BBC press release Howard said: "I love being part of Mock The Week but I wanted to quash the persistent rumours that Dara O'Briain and I inappropriately share a dressing room by taking a break until they blow over."

Amongst the guests that will appear in the forthcoming run include Andi Osho, Milton Jones, Chris Addison, Ed Byrne, Kevin Bridges, Jack Whitehall and this year's Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Russell Kane.

A spokesperson adds: "The series is extending later into the year than ever before, allowing the team to plunder the traditional autumn news surge and come away with more gems than a dinner party guest at Nelson Mandela's. The next six weeks promise to be full of news. As well as three party conferences, a papal visit and a new Labour leader, there's some golf stuff happening and hopefully more weird stories involving octopuses, giant rats and Boris Johnson."