BBC adds Ullman, Brooker satire

Charlie Brooker’s 2017 Wipe will air at the end of the year

BBC comedy controller Shane Allen has unveiled a raft of satirical programming for the UK pubcaster’s linear and online channels featuring Tracey Ullman, Charlie Brooker and Frankie Boyle.

BBC1 will air Tracey Breaks the News (1×30’), a one-off special from BBC Studios featuring Ullman as she satirises politicians including Germany’s Angela Merkel, Scotland’s Nicola Sturgeon, US First Lady Melania Trump and UK premier Theresa May.

BBC2’s schedule will house political talkshow Frankie Boyle’s New World Order (4×30’), from Endemol Shine Group (ESG)’s UK prodco Zeppotron, and Cunk On Britain (5×30′), which features Philomena Cunk (played by comedian Diane Morgan) exploring the history to Britain.

The latter is produced by ESG’s House of Tomorrow, which is also behind Charlie Brooker’s 2017 Wipe (1×60’), which will take satirical look at the year’s biggest stories at the end of 2017.

Meanwhile, UK prodco King Bert and comedian Luisa Omielan are behind Politics for Bitches (4×30’), which will be available via online-only channel BBC3.

“This range of shows puts a contemporary spin on the decades’ long, rich tradition of satire on the BBC. In a tumultuous political climate, the desire and opportunity for satire is at an all-time high,” said Allen.

“The fast-moving social media age presents a new challenge in a fluid news landscape, so we need to be ever more up to date and reactive. This gathering of idiosyncratic comic minds is a concerted effort to create a satirical hall of mirrors to reflect upon.”