Football fan? Music lover? Or just fancy a laugh? Sky have got you covered with their bumper year of unmissable TV, with 2022 seeing more original entertainment shows commissioned than ever before. Teasing a sneak peek of the new programmes coming to Sky Max, Sky confirmed four brand new entertainment shows, with more still to be announced.

Viewers can look forward to the return of Fantasy Football League, hosted by Matt Lucas and Elis James, Got Got Need, executive produced by Jack Whitehall and fronted by father and son duo Jamie and Harry Redknapp, Hold The Front Page with comedy buddies Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe, and a second series of Never Mind The Buzzcocks with Greg Davies, Daisy May Cooper, Noel Fielding and Jamali Maddix all set to return to the panel.

Fantasy Football League is back and bringing with it, two brand new hosts – football fanatics and comedy stars Matt Lucas and Elis James. The iconic comedy football show will blend the best of what’s funny in football, with our special celebrity guest managers picking their dream team line-up. The series will return to our screens with a 16-episode series this autumn.

Read all about it! Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe are set to leap into the sensational and often surreal world of local news in Hold The Front Page, a six-part series following the pair’s comical venture into journalism.

Meanwhile, football legends Jamie and Harry Redknapp will be put to the ultimate football fan’s test in Got Got Need. The FIFA World Cup-inspired challenge set by executive producer, Jack Whitehall, will see the Redknapps use their connections to bag meetings with top football players in the hope of creating their very own fantasy team.

And finally, following season one’s hugely successful launch, the iconic pop culture panel show, Never Mind The Buzzcocks returns for a second series. Host Greg Davies oversees the musical festivities, while the teams will be headed up by Buzzcocks veteran Noel Fielding alongside Daisy May Cooper and regular guest Jamali Maddix.

Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Entertainment, commented: “There’s something for everyone this year on Sky Max; from football, to music, to local news, to Daisy May Cooper’s laugh. We’re excited to showcase some of the best of British talent from the small screen in a host of entertainment shows that will provide us all with some much-needed light relief.”

Matt Lucas, Fantasy Football, says: “I loved watching Fantasy Football League with Frank, David and Statto and am chuffed to bits to be a part of this new incarnation. I now make a living eating cake and watching football. I must be the luckiest man in the world. I also get to share the sofa with Elis, who is not only hilarious but the biggest football geek I’ve ever met. See you next season.”

Josh Widdicombe, Hold The Front Page, says: “I was forced to become a comedian after a period of being by far the worst journalist on the Guardian Sports Desk. Consequently, I’m delighted that Sky have given me the opportunity to prove once and for all that I 100% made the right decision in leaving this noble trade. Most of all I’m delighted they have paired me with one of the only people I know who has less chance of doing well in a proper important job.”

Jack Whitehall, Executive Producer of Got Got Need says: “I have always been, like many, a devoted fan to the World Cup and I am beyond excited to be putting one of my best mates and his dad to the test in this exciting new World Cup challenge. More importantly, I can’t wait for Sky viewers to watch Jamie Redknapp fail.”

Greg Davies, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, says: “I’m delighted that Buzzcocks is coming back. I can’t wait to give more musicians the chance to increase their cool by hanging out with fat uncle Greg and his three odd children.”

Further information on shows announced today

Fantasy Football
(16 x 30’) Sky Max and NOW

After 18 years off our screens, Sky are bringing back Fantasy Football League, the iconic comedy football show blending football fanaticism with celebrity chat. Originally fronted by the show’s creators, David Baddiel and Frank Skinner, the duo will be passing the ball to brand new hosts, Matt Lucas and Elias James. Fantasy Football League will be returning to our screens this autumn for a new 16-episode series on Sky Max and NOW.

Running from 1994 to 2004, saw celebrity guests competing against each other as managers in a ‘fantasy league’ as well as chatting all things football. Guests on the show included: Bob Mortimer, Noel Gallagher and George Best. The show also included the legendary regular feature, Phoenix From The Flames, where a retired star footballer recreated one of their most memorable moments in football.

The series was commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment at Sky for Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content at Sky. Fantasy Football League is produced by Avalon. The Series Producer is Spencer Millman (Fantasy Football League, TV Burp, The Inbetweeners) and the Series Director is Peter Orton (Fantasy Football League, TV Burp, The Russell Howard Hour).

Hold the Front Page
(6 x 60’) Sky Max and NOW

Josh Widdicombe and Nish Kumar are about to leap into the unique and often sensational world of local news with Hold the Front Page, a six-part series following the comical duo's journey into the heart of grass roots Britain.

Sky’s new series will follow the highs and lows of Nish and Josh as they travel across the UK working for a different local newspaper each week, on a mission to find real local stories strong enough to make the front page. Their investigative journey around Britain will see them delve into local mysteries, take part in unusual events, cover the burning issues of the day and even involve themselves in the news or enlist a celebrity or two to help them out along the way.

But with almost no journalistic experience the pair will have to rely on their quick wits and natural curiosity as they attempt to get to the heart of makes each town or village tick - digging up some extraordinary scoops. This will be an eye-opening look at some of Britain's amazing local communities through the lens of their local newspaper. What could possibly go wrong?

The series is commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment at Sky UK, for Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content at Sky UK. Shirley Jones is the Commissioning Editor for Sky. Hold the Front Page is produced by CPL Productions, a Red Arrow Studios company, the Executive Producers are David Taylor, Murray Boland and Danielle Lux.

Got Got Need
(3 x 60’) Sky Max and NOW

The World Cup 2022 kicks off this November in Qatar and Jack Whitehall has challenged best mate Jamie Redknapp to a World Cup challenge of his own. Instead of collecting stickers as so many do, he has to build his own World Cup team by collecting real-life meetings with actual World Cup stars. Panicking about failing and desperate not to lose to Jack, Jamie drags his father Harry into the caper hoping that his contacts can open some doors. Together, Jamie and Harry embark on a road trip across the UK & Europe to do whatever it takes to meet as many World Cup legends as possible… but will Jack be impressed by their final 11?

Manager extraordinaire, Harry Redknapp says “I can’t wait to work with Jamie again and start this challenge. It’s going to be great fun collecting my team of World Cup legends and hopefully I’ll be able to catch up with a few old friends along the way!”

Football legend Jamie Redknapp says “I still remember my first World Cup sticker album – Spain 1982. I got close, but never managed to find Peru’s Hugo Gastulo and I’ll never forgive him for it. I hope I do better with this one.”

The series is commissioned by Phil Edgar Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment at Sky UK for Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content at Sky UK. Shirley Jones is the Commissioning Editor. Got Got Need is produced by Jackpot Productions Ltd; the Executive Producers are Jack Whitehall and Richard Ackerman.

Never Mind the Buzzcocks
(9 x 60’ plus Christmas special) Sky Max and NOW

Never Mind the Buzzcocks is returning to Sky for a second series after the first series being one of Sky’s best performance launches ever. Host Greg Davies oversees the musical festivities, while the teams will be headed up by Buzzcocks veteran Noel Fielding alongside Daisy May Cooper and regular guest Jamali Maddix. Joining them will be a roster of top stars from the world of music and comedy, as they compete over both beloved classic rounds and brand spanking new ones.

The series is commissioned by Phil Edgar Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment at Sky UK for Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content at Sky UK. Shirley Jones is the Commissioning Editor. The series is produced by Talkback (a Fremantle label) and Executive Produced by Kate Edmunds and Jonno Richards, Managing Director of Talkback. The Series Editor is Jordan Read. Fremantle holds the global format rights.