Couple of weeks ago I wrote some waffle around Getting on a TV Show (here) that started from a Lucy Porter clip. Then this 2024 clip (from The Rest is Entertinment) popped into my feed this week.

Richard Osman (around 17.44 minutes) is answering a question about “recurring comedians and guests” on TV shows.

He says that, as a Producer, you want to book someone that will turn up and do a good show – and you want big names.

But he also says that channels use focus groups a LOT and know what the public like (and bear in mind this was 2 years ago and so some of the names he mention may not align with who is popular now).

He mentions that C4, through 8 Out of 10 Cats, were very good at giving air time to new comics – but doesn’t mention that he was Executive Producer on the show (his BCG profile is here).

One thing I think he perhaps could have added is something about the timing of when shows are filmed. I know from comments that I’ve read that there are people that literally think shows are aired on the day that they have been recorded.

With UK panel shows (whether Jimmy’s shows or such as Would I Lie To You and QI) the recording dates are dictated by the availability of the Host / Team Captains. Shows are frequently recorded 6+ months before broadcast and there are plenty of out takes around YouTube of panellists joking, off camera, about how the it’s March and they are pretending that it’s Christmas.

The reason I bring this up is that this adds another dimension to someone suddenly seeming to be on a lot of shows, in the same month. When production companies are all competing for the same guests and shows are being shown on SOOOO many channels – the guest has no control over possibly being over exposed.

Anyway, worth a listen. Once you get passed the first minute or so’s nonsense about the name of the question submitter…