US comedy format Whose Line Is It Anyway? debuts on Dave

9 February 2021 UKTV has acquired exclusive UK rights to 50 episodes of the US version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, the award-winning, improvisational comedy series hosted by popular US talk show host, actress and comedian Aisha Tyler.

The deal was brokered by Hat Trick Internationals (HTI) Cassandra Toller and UKTVs Global Acquisitions Manager, Daniel Thomas. The series will launch on the networks Dave channel this February in a prime-time evening slot, stripped across the week. The series features Wayne Brady, Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie as well as celebrity guests including Mel B, Kevin McHale, Nolan Gould and Jack Osbourne, and is produced by Hat Trick Productions and Angst Productions for The CW.

13 international adaptations of the long-running comedy format have been produced around the world, including Australia (Foxtel), Finland (MTV3), Holland (BNN-Vara), Vietnam (Dong Tay Promotion) and Egypt (TeN TV).

HTI has also secured sales deals for comedy show Hypothetical, now in its third series on Dave in the UK. Produced by Hat Trick Productions, the series has sold and aired on BBC Studios Global channels in Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, and also SBS Australia and TVNZ in New Zealand.

Sarah Tong, Director of Sales at Hat Trick International, comments:

Hat Trick International has established an incredible pedigree of highly successful comedy series in its catalogue and were delighted to be able to spread some laughs to many parts of the world through the sales of these two entertainment formats. We all need cheering up right now and they certainly deliver a mix of intelligent wit and silly comedy.

Whose Line is it Anyway? USA (170 x hour) is an unscripted comedy show in which four guest performers improvise their way through a series of games, including voicing over a clip from a film which has had the soundtrack removed, inventing a song about a member of the audience, finding entertaining ways of using props or acting a scene in a variety of styles. Performers are awarded points by the host on an entirely arbitrary basis. The prize for the winner is to read out the closing credits in a style demanded by the host.

Hypothetical (22 x 1 hour) is a popular comedy panel show hosted by Josh Widdicome (The Last Leg) and James Acaster (Repertoire). Over four hilarious rounds, top comedians are posed increasingly absurd hypothetical situations and scored on how well they would deal with them.

For further information please contact:

Ali Laurie, Publicist, UKTV and BBC Studios Distribution UK

Debbie Lawrence, The Lippin Company Ltd, dlawrence@lippingroup.com

About Hat Trick International

Hat Trick International (HTI) was established in 1998 to internationally distribute the award winning formats and finished shows created by Hat Trick Productions.

Since then, HTI has gone from strength to strength; representing programming from both Hat Trick Productions and other independent producers, including Keo Films, Plum Pictures and Outline Productions and now boasts a portfolio of 2500 hours of content.

HTIs hit shows form cornerstones in schedules throughout the globe, including Have I Got News for You, Episodes and Derry Girls, plus factual titles such as George Clarkes Amazing Spaces, Killer Women with Piers Morgan, Hughs War on Waste and the multi award winning Exodus: Our Journey to Europe.

www.hattrickinternational.com

About UKTV

UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 25 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers.

UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UKs most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the worlds leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.

corporate.uktv.co.uk |press.uktv.co.uk | @uktvpress

LINK:	https://corporate.uktv.co.uk/news/article/hat-trick-internationals-us-...
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