Channel 5 is to start broadcasting British comedy shows again, after a break of 8 years.

The network has inked a deal with Comedy Central to co-commission new prank shows, sketch shows and other scripted series across the next two years.

Both channels are now owned by US media conglomerate Viacom, making collaborations easier.

The first programme announced is a new version of Impractical Jokers. Following on from a non-broadcast pilot, the two channels have now jointly ordered 9 episodes of the show.

Sticking to the same format as the previous BBC Three version and the original American series - four comedians setting each other dares - the new UK version of Impractical Jokers will star Paul Richard Biggin, Lee Griffiths, David Moon and Matt Ralph, all of whom are from the sketch group Late Night Gimp Fight.

Broadcast magazine reports that Ben Frow from Channel 5 has said: "I was quite happy musing about how we might move into comedy... thinking about what we might do in the long-distant future. Then Viacom bought us and suddenly the future was on my doorstep and Jill [Offman] was banging down my door to get comedy on C5."

Admitting that it will be a challenge to find a ratings hit, Frow has emphasised that critical acclaim could be more important to the channel than viewer numbers. "I'm very ambitious about it, and we have to make sure when we do comedy on C5, we get it right. If it doesn't rate that's fine, but in terms of critical acclaim, it is imperative that we do not look like idiots and put some rubbish on the screen. We have to make sure that we're playing with the big boys. We are not the channel to be experimental or leftfield; we are broad and mainstream and it needs to be of good quality to prevent people taking pot shots at us."

Talking about the full series commission for Impractical Jokers, Robert Gray from Yalli Productions says: "I'm thrilled to be working with Jill and Ben, and very excited that the show will be on both Channel 5 and Comedy Central UK. It's a fantastic format and I think the nation will love watching our Impractical Jokers squirm in television's funniest hidden camera show."

Jill Offman from Comedy Central adds: "Our UK Impractical Jokers have the same brilliant chemistry that has made their US counterparts such a success and I can't wait to see what pranks they pull on the unsuspecting British public."

Channel 5's last foray into making British comedy was in 2006 to 2007, when it broadcast sitcoms such as Respectable, Suburban Shootout and Angelo's before giving up and switching to focusing on US imports and factual entertainment.