Lee Mack developing new Saturday night BBC1 show

Tuesday 23rd November 2010, 8:15pm

Not Going Out. Lee (Lee Mack). Copyright: Avalon Television / Arlo Productions

The BBC are to pilot a new Saturday entertainment show fronted by Lee Mack.

The stand-up comedian will record a trial episode of Lee Mack's All Star Cast next month, which - if successful - will then be commissioned as a prime-time series for Saturday nights on BBC One in 2011.

The format will see Mack performing stand-up and sketches to a live studio audience with the help of star guests, including Catherine Tate. The show will also feature a guest stand-up slot, and live music too.

The programme is being billed as "the new BBC1 Saturday night show where everyone's a star", as volunteers from the audience will be invited to take part in the big end-of-show sketch alongside the established comedy stars.

Lee Mack's All Star Cast is being developed by Arlo and Zeppotron, the latter of which is the production company behind Would I Lie To You?, the panel show on which Mack is a regular team captain.

It has been known for some time that Lee Mack has been looking to produce a mainstream entertainment show. He said earlier in the year: "I'm trying to get my own variety series off the ground, which I'm doing a pilot for. It's early doors and I don't know what it is yet, but basically it's a variety show with a bit of stand-up and sketches."

Mack has some previous experience in the genre. In 2005 and 2007 he presented The Lee Mack Show on Radio 2, a popular variety show featuring stand-up, sketches and music.

Lee Mack's All Star Cast will be recorded at BBC TV Centre in London on Sunday 19th December 2010. To watch the recording, visit our tickets page

A fourth series of Mack's hit sitcom Not Going Out, which co-stars fellow stand-up Tim Vine, is currently in production, and will be shown on BBC One in early 2011.

Story update (April 2011). The show was indeed commissioned:

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