Banijay is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay is present in 16 territories.
Banijay is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay is present in 16 territories.

Tag Archive: David Earl

  1. U&Gold to take viewers on Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour

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    Comedians, writers, performers and podcasters Joe Wilkinson and David Earl will bring their camaraderie and love of comedy to U&Gold for Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour (3×60’). Part travelogue, part buddy comedy and part retrospective, in Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour Joe Wilkinson and David Earl will explore their love of classic British sitcoms, with an episode each devoted to The Office, Porridge and Fawlty Towers. In the episode exploring The Office, Joe & David meet up with David Brent himself, series co-creator, co-writer and star Ricky Gervais, and are even treated to an up close and personal performance of the David Brent classic song Freelove Freeway.

    Joe Wilkinson said

    “I’ve been obsessed with sitcoms since I was a lad, so hunting about for locations and other bits and bobs related to some of my favourite shows is like a dream come true…and that’s why I refused to take a fee for this job.”

    David Earl said

    “I’m very grateful to UKTV for giving us the chance to make this series, something me and Joe have been talking about for ages. It honestly feels like I’ve won a competition where the prize is stepping through the TV screen into my favourite sitcom worlds. This 51 year old man is very happy indeed.”

    In each episode one of the pair will plan a specially themed and surprising day out for the other, with each taking it in turns. Basing each leg of their Magical Sitcom Tour on The Office, Porridge and Fawlty Towers, they’ll visit filming locations, reenact their favourite iconic moments and hear amazing behind the scenes tales from cast, crew and very special guests.

    Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour is commissioned for UKTV by Mark Iddon, senior commissioning editor, comedy entertainment, and ordered by Gerald Casey, director of programming, comedy and entertainment, and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning. Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour is produced by Zeppotron (a Banijay UK company), with James Fidler as series producer and Peter Holmes as executive producer, and co-produced by Big Oval Plate, with Joe Wilkinson and David Earl as executive producers.

    Mark Iddon said,

    “Joe Wilkinson and David Earl are the U&Gold audience. They don’t just admire these sitcoms, they love them with the same passion our viewers do. That’s what makes this show feel so special. It’s like watching two fans take us all along on their own personal love letter to comedy classics. They’re hilarious together, and that shared obsession means our audience will embrace them as one of their own.”

    Gerald Casey said,

    “It’s an absolute delight to welcome Joe Wilkinson and David Earl back to U&Gold. Two of the country’s funniest men exploring our funniest shows, viewers are in for a treat.”

    Peter Holmes said,

    “This show is the very definition of that overused TV term “passion project”. Joe and David love sitcoms and their affection for the form and for each other make them the perfect pair to take us on a tour of these comedy classics.”

    Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour is the latest comedy commission for U&Gold. This month the channel aired a live recording of Fawlty Towers – The Play, and next month sees a 50th anniversary retrospective forThe Good Life: Inside Out, while earlier this year Neil Morrissey and Martin Clunes reunited for Neil & Martin’s Bon Voyage. In early 2026 U&Gold will air Becoming Victoria Wood, a feature-length documentary about the life of Victoria Wood, which will also receive a nationwide theatrical release.

    Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour will air on U&Gold in 2026.

  2. Zeppotron signs development deal with David Earl and Joe Wilkinson

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    Zeppotron, a Banijay UK company, has signed an exclusive development deal with David Earl and Joe Wilkinson’s production company, Big Oval Plate. The two-year deal will see the comedians work with Zeppotron to develop new unscripted television formats.

    David and Joe are frequent collaborators having created, written and starred in the sitcoms Rovers (Sky One), The Cockfields (Gold & BBC2) and working together on screen in 3 series of Ricky Gervais’ After Life (Netflix).  David also co-wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed 2022 comedy drama film Brian and Charles, while Joe’s numerous acting credits include both Sex Education(Netflix) and Him and Her (BBC3).

    In 2020 the pair launched their production company Big Oval Plate, through which they produce and host their successful podcast series Chatabix.

    Working with the team at Zeppotron, David and Joe will develop funny non-scripted formats from travelogues to factual entertainment and reality shows.  Joe has a long-standing relationship with Zeppotron, having first appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats in 2011 and been a key cast member on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown since its inception.

    Ruth Phillips, Co-Managing Director of Zeppotron said; “As well as being brilliant comedic performers and writers, Joe and David are also blessed with wonderfully inventive minds and an astute knack for coming up with unusual, funny ideas that nevertheless have a big, mainstream sensibility.   We’ve loved working with (and laughing with) Joe for many years on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and can’t wait to now join forces with both him and David to make great programmes together.”

    David Earl said: “I’m very chuffed to be working with Zeppotron. The fact that me and Joe can now come up with stupid ideas for TV and they have to at least be polite and listen to them is a lovely feeling. I do hope they remain patient with us though.”

    Joe Wilkinson added; “I am very very very excited to be collaborating with the Zeppotron. It’s been a joy to work with them over the last ten years on some of their brilliant shows. They are so fantastic at making ideas come to life and I’m really looking forward to having more fun with them on some new ideas.”