The 11 O'Clock Show

Last updated

The 11 O'Clock Show
11oclockshow logo.jpg
Genre Satire
Comedy
Presented by Brendon Burns (series 1)
Fred MacAulay (series 1)
Iain Lee (series 1–4)
Daisy Donovan (series 2–4)
Jon Holmes (series 5)
Sarah Alexander (series 5)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series5
No. of episodes144
Production
Running time30–35 minutes
Production company Talkback
Original release
Network Channel 4
Release30 September 1998 (1998-09-30) –
8 December 2000 (2000-12-08)
Related
Da Ali G Show

The 11 O'Clock Show was a satirical late-night British television comedy series on Channel 4 which featured topical sketches and commentary on news items. [1] It ran between 30 September 1998 and 8 December 2000, most notably hosted by Iain Lee and Daisy Donovan. [2] The show boosted the careers of the previously little-known Ricky Gervais, Sacha Baron Cohen (in character as Ali G), Jimmy Carr, and Mackenzie Crook. [3]

Contents

Hosts and presenters

The 11 O'Clock Show underwent a number of line-up changes during its run. There are numerous cases of external-segment reporters becoming studio hosts, and vice versa. Notable presenters and cast members included:

Production

The 11 O'Clock Show was written, recorded and transmitted on the same day, similar to The Daily Show (1996).

James Bobin was a director and writer and helped create the characters of Ali G, Borat and Brüno. [20]

"Ali G was the thing that kept the 11 O'Clock Show going. If we hadn't of had Ali G, the 11 O'Clock Show would have died." [3] - Iain Lee

MacKenzie Crook joined the show in Series 2. [21]

Ricky Gervais (54 episodes) joined The 11 O’Clock Show team for Series 3 replacing Sacha Baron Cohen (45 episodes). [22] [23] [24]

Charlie Brooker was a writer. [25]

"the show had been given the specific instruction, unbeknownst to me, to shock. Shock and offend was more important than being funny... The Ali G stuff was hilarious, the Ricky Gervais stuff was divisive but hilarious. But a lot of it wasn't very funny." [3] - Iain Lee

Sarah Alexander joined the show in Series 5. [26]

Controversy

In January 2000, the show came under criticism from the Broadcasting Standards Commission following viewer complaints about comments made on the show about recently deceased TV presenter Jill Dando, songwriter Bobby Willis (the husband of entertainer Cilla Black) and golfer Payne Stewart. [27]

In January 2000, the Independent Television Commission upheld complaints from viewers for sketches about the 1999 Armenian parliament shooting. [28] [29]

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ "Channel 4's 10 O'Clock Live: The 11 O'Clock Show at 10 O'Clock?". www.telegraph.co.uk. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Daisy Donovan: 'I still can't believe I asked Denis Healey if he'd given Margaret Thatcher a pearl necklace'". www.telegraph.co.uk. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bennett, Steve. "Ali G was originally called The Yoof Wanker". chortle.co.uk . Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  4. ↑ Westbrook, Caroline (26 March 2018). "Iain Lee personally apologises to Richard Madeley for 11 O'Clock Show remarks". Metro. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "The 11 O'Clock Show". nostalgiacentral.com – Nostalgia Central. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  6. ↑ Ferguson, Euan (29 August 2004). "'I don't mind if they point and laugh'". The Observer. ISSN   0029-7712 . Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  7. ↑ "Inside Comedy - Interviews - Paul Garner". Archived from the original on 26 March 2009.
  8. ↑ "Controversial 11 0'Clock Show faces axe as Channel 4's new line-up launched". the Guardian. 10 November 2000. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "Why do I squirm whenever Ali G is on the box?". Independent.co.uk . 9 December 1999.
  10. ↑ Popović, Helena (2011). "Audience, Text and Context: Television Comedy and Social Critique" (PDF). Doctoral thesis. Ljubljana: Faculty of Social Sciences, Ljubljana University of Ljubljana . Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  11. ↑ Pilley, Max (25 October 2024). "Ricky Gervais celebrates 26 years since being made redundant, which led to standup success: "I was 37"". NME. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  12. 1 2 Hendry, Steve (8 March 2015). "Fred MacAulay prepares to step down from long-running BBC Scotland radio show". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  13. ↑ "Sarah Alexander: Blonde ambition". The Independent. 9 November 2005. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  14. ↑ "Holmes to present 11 O'Clock Show". the Guardian. 2 October 2000. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  15. ↑ BBC. "BBC - Comedy - People A-Z - Rich Hall". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  16. ↑ "Alex Lowe, comedian news : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  17. ↑ "Tommy Vance". The Observer. 4 December 2005. ISSN   0029-7712 . Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  18. ↑ "Oi, watch my show". The Scotsman.
  19. ↑ "Jimmy Carr". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  20. ↑ "Flight of the Conchords". HBO. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  21. ↑ "Past Presenters and Reporters". 11Show. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  22. ↑ "Ricky Gervais". The Unofficial 11 O'Clock Show page. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "Ali G". The Unofficial 11 O'Clock Show page. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  24. ↑ "11 O'clock Show 2000". The Carr-Tell. 16 March 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  25. ↑ Letonja, Timotej. "IN CONVERSATION WITH CHARLIE BROOKER". Numéro Netherlands . Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  26. ↑ "Alexander, Sarah (1971-) Biography". Screenonline . British Film Institute . Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  27. ↑ "Channel 4 rapped over Dando". BBC News. 27 January 2000. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  28. ↑ "Channel 4 rapped over Dando". BBC News . Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  29. ↑ Gibson, Janine (18 January 2000). "Peak Practice sex claims criticised". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 November 2025. In a report published today, the Independent Television Commission upheld 16 complaints from viewers about the edition of the long running ITV drama series.
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