BBC Two is delighted to announce the commissioning of two brand-new series of the critically acclaimed stand-up comedy show, Live at the Apollo.

Live at the Apollo has been instrumental in building the careers of some of Britain’s biggest comedy stars from Michael McIntyre to John Bishop, Mo Gilligan to Katherine Ryan. Next year marks 20 years since the show first launched, and it continues to showcase the best in stand-up comedy whilst highlighting the diverse breadth and depth of UK comedy talent, as well as introducing the audience to the next generation of future stars.

Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC, says: “We are very proud that we will be making two more series of Live at the Apollo, which provides a platform for fresh and experienced comedians to showcase themselves. The show has consistently delivered the finest comedy talents to our viewers, and we are excited to keep bringing fresh and hilarious stand-up acts for all to enjoy."

Andrew Beint, MD of Open Mike Productions says: "Open Mike are thrilled that Live At The Apollo will air for two more series on the BBC in 2024 and 2025. We will continue to introduce viewers to some of the funniest homegrown and international stand-up comedic talent currently working in today's comedy industry, and cannot wait to have the future comedy super stars of tomorrow perform in front of the famous Live At the Apollo lights."

Since launching in 2004 as Jack Dee Live at the Apollo, as the show was originally called, it has featured such household names as Joan Rivers, Romesh Ranganathan, Kevin Bridges, Lee Mack, Alan Carr, Nish Kumar, Sir Lenny Henry, Jack Whitehall, Eddie Izzard, Tom Allen, Sarah Millican and Nina Conti.

115 episodes later, Live at the Apollo is still considered the gold-standard for stand-up comedy on television, the show continues to turn comedians into star and stars into comedy legends.

Both series will consist of six regular episodes and a Christmas special and will be filmed at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2024 and 2025 where comedians will perform to a packed house of 3500 people.

Live at the Apollo (7 x 45) has been commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC. The exec producer for Open Mike Productions is Andrew Beint and series producer is Anthony Caveney.