‘We all want a laugh'

Jonathan Ross on giving up-and-coming comedians their big break in a lockdown inspired show

- Victoria Wilson

Jonathan Ross has long been a champion of showcasing new comedy talent.

Having given many comedians (including Paul Merton, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer) their TV break on his 1987 C4 chat show The Last Resort and its follow-up, One Hour with Jonathan Ross, he has been instrumental in launching the careers of some of the biggest names in show business.

With many venues across the UK forced to shut their doors during the coronavirus pandemic, Jonathan is now stepping in to give up-and-coming stand-up comics a chance to reach a wider audience in his brand-new ITV show, Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club.

Each episode will re-create the atmosphere of a small comedy club – all filmed within strict social distancing guidelines, of course – and will see new faces, such as Jordan Brookes and Babatunde Aleshe, perform a short set, with established names like Katherine Ryan and Rob Beckett popping by to try out new material.

Here, Jonathan, 59, tells TV Times why this project is so important to him…

Why did you want to make this show?