Sky orders fast-turnaround ent show

Sky’s The Russell Howard Hour

Sky in the UK has commissioned Avalon to produce a fast-turnaround topical entertainment show fronted by comedian Russell Howard.

Russell Howard’s Home Time will air twice a week on Sky1 and Sky OTT platform Now TV on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting tomorrow.

The show will also be made available worldwide on the same day as its broadcast via Howard’s YouTube channel, while the comedian will be donating his fee for the series to NHS Charities Together and The Trussell Trust.

Rather than a studio set, the series will see Howard giving his unique perspective on current world events from his former childhood bedroom as he chats to some famous and interesting people in lockdown.

Philip Edgar-Jones, head of entertainment at Sky, said: “We’re living in the strangest and most anxious of moments, in a world where we communicate with our friends and families solely via online platforms; where crossing the road to avoid people is considered polite and where we’d gladly grass up our neighbours for sitting on a park bench. So, who better to unpick the oddness with his unique take on the world than Russell Howard?”

Howard added: “Like you, I’m stuck at home going slowly mad. So, I’m doing a new show where I’ll be trying to spread some joy in these strange times, chatting to some famous faces and unsung heroes – but, crucially, not touching any of them.”

Russell Howard’s Home Time was commissioned by Sky content MD Zai Bennett and entertainment head Philip Edgar Jones. The commissioning editor at Sky is Shirley Jones, while the executive producers are Richard Allen-Turner, James Taylor and Jon Thoday for Avalon. The series producer is Robyn O’Brien. Howard’s existing Sky show, Russell Howard Hour, is set to return to Sky1 later this year.