ITV2 Fresh returns: A season of brand new comedy and entertainment this autumn

ITV2 returns with its successful season of brand new comedy and entertainment singles courtesy of BAME talent both on and off the screen. Following on from the success of last year’s specials, ITV2 Fresh unveils four brand new 30-minute singles, which showcase the breadth of talent and will air in the run up to the MOBO Awards on ITV2. 

The season has been commissioned by Entertainment Commissioning Editor Asif Zubairy and Head of Digital Channels and Acquisitions Rosemary Newell. 

This year sees one off specials from Bentavision/Sugar Films, Purple Geko Productions, TriForce Productions and Transparent Television covering a host of genres from mockumentary to scripted comedy. 

Rosemary Newell said: “This year’s Fresh season is the perfect opportunity to bring some fantastic new comedy and entertainment to our viewers from some exceptionally talented stars of the future.”  

Asif Zubairy said: “We have four incredibly funny, edgy and innovative comedy and entertainment shows and are excited to be bringing these to the ITV2 audience.  I’m thrilled that we are continuing our strong ties with BAME talent and offer a much-deserved platform for talent both on and the screen.”  

Sorry, I Didn’t Know is a classic panel show with a twist and is hosted by Jimmy Akingbola. 

Made by Triforce Productions, two teams of comedians (Chizzy Akudolu, Jo Martin, Jimmy James Jones, Toby Williams, Paul Chowdhry, Judi Love) will take viewers on a tour of black history across the globe. Insightful, educational. bold, tongue-in-cheek and above all very funny, the teams will battle over four rounds as they unveil some interesting historical facts.   

Fraser and Minnie Ayres, Triforce Productions said:  “We’re incredibly excited to be working with ITV2 to bring a fresh look to the comedy panel show format with Sorry, I Didn’t Know… Their support for new production companies and their commitment to increasing access and diversity is truly pioneering.” 

All About The McKenzies is a family sitcom conceived, written, directed and starring Samuell Benta. 

Samuell McKenzie has ambitions of Hollywood superstardom but, following the breakdown of his relationship with the mother of his child, he finds his dreams confined by the walls of his parent’s home. The McKenzies are a warm if eccentric West Indian family spanning three generations, and able to turn the smallest drama into a crisis. 

All About The McKenzies first debuted on Youtube.  The show is made by Bentavision in association with Sugar Films.  The producer is Samuell Benta, Bentavision and the executive producer is Pat Younge, Sugar Films.    

Other cast include, Leanne Dunstan (Charlene), Frankie Clarence (Andre), Chyna-Skye Campbell (Angel), Fenella James (Delia), Delroy Brown (Raymond), Jason Pennycooke (Granddad), Saffron Hocking (Annika), Ola Christian (Femi), Ashley Joseph (Ian Watson), Tim Hudson (Blinky Steve), Sandeep Sharma (Mr Shah), Tina Chiang (Selina). 

Pat Younge, Managing Director, Sugar Films said:  "When you find a fresh and exciting young talent like Samuell Benta, it's so important to have proactive and willing partners like ITV Entertainment and ITV2.  'All About The Mckenzies' has been a sensation online and it's really exciting to bring the Youtube spirit to prime-time on a mainstream UK channel." 

Dropperz is a brand new mockumentary centred around a struggling grime group whose last shot at success doesn’t go according to plan!   Using their archetypical record label boss’s house as the backdrop for their much-needed video, the band soon find themselves in hot water when their dog kills the much-loved family pet rabbit.  Dropperz have a problem. They still have to record their music video but must also find a replacement rabbit or face being dropped from their label! Dropperz is made by Purple Geko Productions and stars Adam Deacon, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Guz Khan, Letitia Hector & Alexis Caley. Executive producers are Femi Oyeniran and Victor Adebodun. Victoralso directs the special alongside Ed Wiles.   

Femi Oyeniran Creative Director at Purple Geko said:  “At Purple Geko we are committed to creating diverse scripted content and working with fresh talent. New writer Ed Wiles' ‘Dropperz’ exemplifies this commitment, with BAFTA award winning actor Adam Deacon spearheading a cast of new onscreen talent. This project with ITV marks an exciting time for us, as we continue to grow and build on our expertise of producing authentic youth-skewed content for broadcasters and online platforms.” 

Presented by Jason Lewis, What’s The Facts is a faux-factual and far-fetched mockumentary, offering the audience ‘facts’ so surreal they could even be true. Using a documentary-making approach to entertainment, this programme aims to prove ‘beyond doubt’ that not only is every one of the seven billion humans on this earth connected, but also every animal, object, building or event – always by six simple, often surreal, steps. 

Weird and wonderful connections could range from Lady Diana’s wedding dress to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory via Aboriginal tribesmen, or how a Suffolk Line Dancing club is tied to Quantum Physics via the girl group Little Mix. 

Jazz Gowans, MD & Creative Director, Transparent Television said:  “Applying the ‘rigorous’ WTF?! approach to matters of national and no importance whatsoever, this is a unique piece of entertaining television.  We hope viewers begin to see the world in a whole new light – from the sublime to the ridiculous.” 

What’s The Facts is executively produced by Jazz Gowans and Mark Powell.  

October 12, 2016 2:15pm ET by ITV Press Centre  

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