A marathon live television event in which a rolling cast of comedians participate in 24 hours of non-stop panel shows for charity.
Comedian David Walliams (David Walliams) serves as host for a continuous 24-hour broadcast of panel game formats, all in aid of Comic Relief. A huge roster of British comedy talent joins him in shifts to tackle versions of popular programmes including Would I Lie To You?, QI, and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, alongside classic formats like Blankety Blank and The Generation Game. Guests attempting to remain coherent through the marathon include Miranda Hart (Miranda Hart), Sean Lock (Sean Lock), David Mitchell (David Mitchell), and Lee Mack (Lee Mack). Walliams’s stamina and sanity are tested as he remains on screen for the entire duration of the broadcast.
Mounted for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day, the 24-hour marathon was a high-wire act of live broadcasting and a feat of televisual endurance. The sheer logistical challenge of rotating dozens of guests through numerous set changes while maintaining a coherent programme gave the production a genuine sense of jeopardy, far removed from the polished finish of a pre-recorded series. The event was anchored entirely by the remarkable stamina of David Walliams, who remained as host throughout. By pushing the ubiquitous panel game to its absolute physical and creative limits, the broadcast served as both a parody and a tribute to a cornerstone of British television comedy.
Between 13 and 17 March there were nightly half hour compilations and on the 25 March there was an hour long compilation of highlights.
Broadcast: BBC Three (Web only), 1 Episode (24 hours), 5-6 March 2011. BBC One, 5 half hour highlights packages from 13-17 March, 1 Episode (highlights), 25 March 2011
Director: Andy Devonshire
Executive Producers: Dan Baldwin, Richard Curtis
Host: David Walliams
Main Cast: David Walliams (Host), Miranda Hart, Sean Lock, Jason Manford, David Mitchell, Lee Mack, Jimmy Carr, Charlie Brooker, Noel Fielding, Sandi Toksvig, Bill Bailey, Matt Lucas, Russell Tovey, Nick Grimshaw
