America has had a long-standing tradition of comedy roasts, but it’s something that’s harder to sell to UK audiences. As a supplement to how this show came about – there is a history of Jimmy being involved in roasts here.
Comedy Central tried to sell roasts to the UK with Roast Battle UK and, from its first showing on January 15th 2018, it lasted for 22 shows across 4 series (S4, Ep5 being shown on February 17th 2020). Launching to really good figures (see below).
The show was made by Fulwell 73 Productions (now called Fulwell Entertainment). Around that time James Corden had an investment in the company.
Across all of the shows Jimmy Carr took the role of Head Judge and also did the show intros and outros and was named as a Producer.
American Brian Moses came on to MC, explaining the rules (to each pair), informing the battlers when it was their last joke etc.
The 2nd judge was Katherine Ryan and the 3rd judge position became the tricky one, after Russell Brand took the role on the 6 episodes of series 1. This 2023 article from Deadline gives some idea of the background (in relation to KR and RB working together).
Series 2 and 3 saw Jonathan Ross join Jimmy and Katherine.
When it came to series 4 the 3rd judges spot, across the 5 episodes, was rotated around Noel Fielding, Big Narstie, Richard Ayoade, Joe Lycett and Sara Pascoe.
Comedy Central have a playlist – here – with 79 clips from the show.
Format
Briand Moses is said to have come up with the concept of roast battling after breaking up an argument at an open mic (see this interview with Brian) and this developed into Jeff Ross presents Roast Battle. Jimmy has appeared with Ross many times – see here.
The pairs of roast battlers were often friends but sometimes husband and wife (or lovers). Which must have made for a frosty bedtime.
They get 5 jokes each and “nothing is off limits, apart from physical contact”.
All battle pairings can be viewed on Comedy.co.uk.
Ratings?
In January 2018 it was announced that the show was Comedy Central’s highest EVER rated UK commissioned show. Beyond the Joke detailed the audience dynamic and Twitter presence.
The first show actually got a decent review from The Guardian, which was a surprise.
Short promo here by Jimmy, 15 Jan 2018. The “married couple” mentioned were Bobby Mair and Harriet Kemsley.
Where to watch?
It’s still being shown by such as Amazon, NowTV, AppleTV etc. And Comedy Central UK has a playlist of clips, on its YouTube channel.
Video Clip, below
I chose this one (which is not one from Comedy Central) as its 12 minutes long and starts with Jimmy’s intro. I thought it gave a better feel for what the show is about.
Judges in this clip are Katherine Ryan and Jonathan Ross and it starts with Jimmy roasting the 2 of them. Brian Moses then introduces battlers Darren Harriott and Tom Ward. Tom was robbed, IMHO. Couple of clips at the end of Harriet Kemsley interviewing them.
2018 Anti-Semitism complaint
In Series 2, episode 1 Chris Ramsey faced off against Tom Rosenthal and Jimmy made a joke about the size of Tom’s nose. As this episode had 7 writers credited we will never know whether this was an off the cuff remark or part of a script. Bearing in mind that, on this show, picking on a comedian’s dress, facial features, hair etc. was virtually mandatory.
The Roast Battle Wikipedia page described it as “delivered by Jimmy Carr” but the recipient of the joke (Tom) has said that he doesn’t consider himself Jewish as his sole Jewish ancestor was one of his paternal great-grandfathers.
Comedy Central UK used those few seconds of banter in a trailer and a viewer complained to OFCOM that it was anti-Semitic. No complaints were made when the full programme was broadcast.
The rules for trailers / promotional clips are different to those for programmes (because anyone could see them, without a trigger warning) and so OFCOM upheld the complaint and “rapped the broadcaster” (note WHO got rapped there – that’s important for the paragraph, below). This decision (from a SINGLE viewer complaint) was possibly influenced by OFCOM having already put CC on official notice back in 2015.
Not being known for a love of factual accuracy (always going for the clickbait), the Daily Mail headline stated “TV watchdog raps Jimmy Carr for making anti-Semitic joke about fellow comedian’s nose”. Not true – CC were rapped for SHOWING it in a trailer.
S4 Ep4 / Joe Lycett
Comedy Central Deutschland has posted one complete episode. The guest judge is Joe Lycett. The battlers are:
- Phil Wang v Fern Brady
- Adam Rowe v Maisie Adam
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