Russell Howard's Good News

Russell Howard's Good News is a British comedy and topical news television show which was broadcast on BBC Three between 2009 and 2014, and on BBC Two between 2014 and 2015. Hosted by comedian Russell Howard, it offered his commentary on the news of the week through mostly stand-up, along with sketches and humorous video clips, whilst also having guest appearances from people who have been featured in the media recently. It was made by independent production company Avalon Television and produced by Mark Iddon, Robyn O'Brien and David Howarth. Repeats of earlier episodes are also broadcast on Comedy Central, Dave and W. The show also made an appearance on Children in Need 2011 and Red Nose Day 2013, featuring a number of sketches from recent episodes, as well as a new segment of "It's Not All Doom and Gloom". In February 2013, users of Digital Spy voted Good News as the Best Show Ever on BBC Three in the run-up to the channel's tenth anniversary.[1]

Russell Howard's Good News
Russell Howard's Good News titlescreen
Also known asRussell Howard's Good News Extra (extended version)'
GenreTopical comedy stand-up, satire
Created byRussell Howard
Presented byRussell Howard
Theme music composerKasabian "Fast Fuse" (instrumental)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series10
No. of episodes96
Production
ProducersMark Iddon
Robyn O'Brien
David Howarth
Production locationsRiverside Studios (Series 1–8)
Shepperton Studios (Series 9)
The London Studios (Series 10)
Running time30 minutes
45 minutes (Good News Extra)
Production companyAvalon Television
Release
Original networkBBC Three (2009–13)
BBC Two (2014–15)
Picture format576i (16:9 SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Audio formatStereo
Original release22 October 2009 (2009-10-22) 
17 December 2015 (2015-12-17)
Chronology
Related showsThe Russell Howard Hour
External links
Website

On 9 June 2014, it was revealed that Good News would move from BBC Three to BBC Two following the broadcast of series 8.[2] Series 9 was aired on BBC Two in late October of the same year,[3] with the tenth and final series starting to air on 22 October 2015.

On 29 November 2016, the BBC announced that they have no immediate plans for another series of Good News for the foreseeable future, but say that Howard would still appear on their channels from time to time. Howard's show moved to Sky One, where it was retitled The Russell Howard Hour.[4]

Show format

The show's format focused primarily on looking into various news stories that have occurred during the week, from within Britain or across the world, whether the story was a major piece or a simple minor one. Howard often provided commentary on these stories, often through stand-up, but also through using sketches, recurring gags (either within an episode, or throughout a series), clips taken from the internet (the owners are credited by the show), to derive comedy from either the story itself, or the subject it is dealing with. These stories were usually catalogued into various topics, with each topic cutting in between segments with stop-motion animated titles. These topics have included:

  • Big News (begins regular show, following the early series)
  • Sports
  • Celebrity
  • Society
  • Crime and Punishment
  • Politics (UK, World, and Weird)
  • Art and Culture
  • Animals
  • Religion
  • Children
  • Health
  • I Did Not Know That
  • Technology
  • Mystery Guest (Series 1-8), Guest (Series 9-10)
  • What Were They Thinking?
  • Stand Up (Good News Extra only)
  • Royal Wedding (Series 4 only)
  • People's Podium (Christmas Special and Series 5/6 only)
  • Headliners (Special episodes of Series 7 and 8)
  • It's Not All Doom and Gloom

Of these, only Big News, Mystery Guest/Guest and It's Not All Doom and Gloom were regular segments in the show, while topics for the other segments were determined by what news stories Howard looked into mostly for that week; some topics were mostly one-offs for a series, such as the Royal Wedding.[5]

Mystery Guest/Guest

From Series 2 to Series 8, the show featured an interview segment called "Mystery Guest", which was always unrehearsed. In it, Howard was never told by his crew who he was meeting and interviewing, only that the guest he had was recently in the news during the week the episode was aired in; the story either featured in a national paper, a local/regional one, or a news website. As such, he had to guess what exactly they were in the news for, based upon clues provided by the guest and the crew, after which Howard would interview them, usually on their skills, hobbies, background, and why they performed something in the story they featured in. Often in most instances of this segment, his guest either did a demonstration of their abilities, or taught Howard something new, with the latter having seen him receive emergency rescue training, pick up new dance moves, play sports, and learn different fighting styles, amongst other things. In later series, a VIP guest was arranged by the crew for the series finale, who was famous in either TV, Film, or Sports and was someone Howard admired a lot; like other guests, Howard had to guess who they were thanks to clues given. Such guests were interviewed as always when identified, and some gave Howard something special to do with them; in one instance, the actor of Boba Fett from Star Wars performed a parody version of "Mastermind", asking Howard questions on the movie franchise.

Because these segments were unrehearsed, Howard was not often prepared for what would occur on stage, especially if he was to be taught something physical, and in some cases, it led to issues. In an episode that was broadcast for Series 5, Howard had been taught how to do a series of simple stunts that he would use in a mocked fight scene with his guest. In order to prepare for this, he attempted to do a press-up on a breakable stool, which broke easily under his weight and caused him to fall hard upon his hand and break it. Although he managed to complete the segment after being initially checked up by the crew, his hand had to be set in a cast after filming for the episode, meaning that the remaining episodes for the series and the selection of guests for them had to be arranged to be less physically demanding on the comedian.[6]

Beginning with Series 9, the segment was revised and changed, renamed to "Guest", and became primarily an interview between Howard and his special guest, who is often someone that has made a great achievement or important contribution to life, and that was picked out by the national news.

It's Not All Doom and Gloom

"It's Not All Doom and Gloom" is used to end the show, since the second series, on a feel-good moment and to usually break away from the show's comedy. This segment involves no comedy at all, as it primarily focuses on a heart-warming story, either of someone who has endured hardships in their life, troubles in their homeland, or disabilities to accomplish amazing feats or extraordinary achievements, a person who has done something incredible in their life, or someone who has done charity work to aid those less fortunate. The only exception where this segment never ended the show was on the extended version, where stand-up comedy followed it.

Attack on Philip Davies MP

In November 2015 Howard attacked Conservative MP Philip Davies on his BBC show calling him an "arsehole", "windbag", "wanker" and a "toad-faced hypocrite", accusing the MP of filibustering (talking out a bill). Following a repeat in March 2016, Davies complained on the grounds of "inaccuracy" and "misrepresentation" and the BBC was forced to publish in the Clarifications and Corrections section of its website stating "Davies did not personally use up all the time available for the debate and that almost three hours remained after he sat down". Howard was also found to have misrepresented Davies' views on the disabled and the BBC noted: "that the programme did not fully represent his comments, which were, that it would be in the best interests of disabled people, and others, to be allowed to offer to work for less than the minimum wage, if the alternative were no employment at all". The broadcaster also agreed not to air the episode again due to their misrepresentation of Davies' position.[7] The BBC Trust later rejected a further escalation of the complaint made by Davies[8]

Russell Howard's Good News Extra

Russell Howard's Good News Extra was an extended version of Good News, in the vein of Have I Got a Bit More News for You and QI XL. Usually broadcast on Saturday nights, Good News Extra episodes served as extended, uncut counterparts to those of the regular show. Typically, the episodes lasted 45 minutes long and feature a guest stand-up comedy act. The repeats shown on Comedy Central and Dave are actually Good News Extra episodes, but are simply listed as Russell Howard's Good News. Series 8 was the last series for which there was a Good News Extra version.

Transmissions

SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodes
122 October 200917 December 20099
225 March 201013 May 20108
321 October 201025 December 20109
424 March 201112 May 20118
527 October 201115 December 20118
612 April 201228 June 201212
727 September 201213 December 201212
825 April 201311 July 201312
923 October 20148 January 20159
1022 October 201517 December 20159

Viewing figures

Episode viewing figures from BARB.[9] They do not include views on BBC HD.

Series 1

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Three
weekly ranking
Multichannels
rank
Good News Extra
stand-up comic
122 October 2009N/AN/AN/ASteve Hall
229 October 2009N/AN/AN/AWil Hodgson
35 November 20090.82315Craig Campbell
412 November 20090.6010N/ATom Wrigglesworth
519 November 20090.667N/APhil Kay
626 November 20090.85415Carl Donnelly
73 December 20090.657N/ASarah Kendall
810 December 20090.70619No stand-up
917 December 20090.8736Colin Hoult (as Len Parker)

Series 2

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Three
weekly ranking
Multichannels
rank
Good News Extra
stand-up comic
125 March 20100.86313Al Pitcher
21 April 20101.07411Ray Peacock
38 April 20101.1112Lloyd Langford
415 April 20101.0228Wendy Wason
(not broadcast)
522 April 20100.91417Arnab Chanda
629 April 20100.88512Seann Walsh
76 May 2010N/AN/AN/AChris Ramsey
813 May 20100.708N/ARussell Kane

Series 3

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Three
weekly ranking
Multichannels
rank
Good News Extra
stand-up comic
121 October 20100.96310Jimmy McGhie
228 October 20100.96414Pete Johansson
34 November 20101.2826Elis James
411 November 20100.82618Roisin Conaty
518 November 20101.02311Ed Gamble
625 November 20100.87323Joe Wilkinson
72 December 20100.98219Nick Helm
89 December 20100.95312Matthew Osborn
925 December 2010N/AN/AN/ARichard Herring

Series 4

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Three
weekly ranking
Multichannels
rank
Good News Extra
stand-up comic
124 March 20110.78817Dan Atkinson
231 March 20110.90417Hari Kondabolu
37 April 20110.85616Tony Law
414 April 20111.06412Joel Dommett
521 April 20110.98818James Acaster
628 April 20111.04717Andy Zaltzman
75 May 20111.12514Gareth Richards
812 May 2011N/AN/AN/AJason Cook

Series 5

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Three
weekly ranking
Multichannels
rank
Good News Extra
stand-up comic
127 October 20110.95215Steve Williams
23 November 2011N/AN/AN/AHenry Paker
310 November 20110.89317John Robins
417 November 20110.99310Alun Cochrane
524 November 20111.2124Naz Osmanoglu
61 December 20111.07215Peacock and Gamble
78 December 20110.99413Celia Pacquola
815 December 20111.00212James Dowdeswell

Series 6

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Three
weekly ranking
Multichannels
rank
Good News Extra
stand-up comic
112 April 20120.95516Doc Brown
219 April 20120.86529Paul McCaffrey
326 April 20120.78430Dana Alexander
43 May 20121.02111Daniel Simonsen
510 May 20120.93518Paul Foot
617 May 20121.07615Hannibal Buress
724 May 20121.0449Iain Stirling
831 May 20120.94513Nina Conti
97 June 20121.0736Jarlath Regan
1014 June 2012N/AN/AN/AAngela Barnes
1121 June 2012N/AN/AN/ATom Craine
1228 June 2012N/AN/AN/ACompilation special

Series 7

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Three
weekly ranking
Multichannels
rank
Good News Extra
stand-up comic
127 September 20121.0837Felicity Ward
24 October 20120.75527Glenn Wool
311 October 20120.73523Daniel Sloss
418 October 20120.91214Mae Martin
525 October 20120.82319Andrew Ryan
61 November 20121.07110Marcel Lucont
78 November 20120.79121Nathan Caton
815 November 20120.734N/AAdam Bloom
922 November 20120.87125Reggie Watts
1029 November 20120.85326Mark Smith
116 December 20120.704N/ACompilation special
1213 December 20120.84320Francesca Martinez

Series 8

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Three
weekly ranking
Multichannels
rank
Good News Extra
stand-up comic
125 April 20130.9829Eugene Mirman
22 May 20130.98111Aisling Bea
39 May 20130.89111Lou Sanders
416 May 20130.88115Bobby Mair
523 May 20131.0915Romesh Ranganathan
630 May 20131.0913Mark Cooper-Jones
76 June 20130.9827Matt Forde
813 June 20130.84519Liam Williams
920 June 20131.2069Jarred Christmas
1027 June 20130.73N/A28Ginger and Black
114 July 2013N/AN/AN/ALuke Toulson
1211 July 2013N/AN/AN/ACompilation special

Series 9

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Two
weekly ranking
123 October 20141.5519
230 October 20141.3726
36 November 20141.7221
413 November 20141.3028
520 November 20141.3924
627 November 20141.3725
74 December 20141.4220
811 December 20141.3525
98 January 2015
(compilation special)
N/AN/A

Series 10

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Two
weekly ranking
122 October 20151.5125
229 October 20151.4322
35 November 20151.4025
412 November 20151.5022
519 November 2015N/AN/A
626 November 20151.4926
73 December 20151.5418
810 December 2015N/AN/A
917 December 2015
(compilation special)
1.3026

DVD releases

A DVD was released on 15 November 2010 entitled Best of Series 1.[10]

A DVD of the Best of Series 2 was released on 24 September 2012.[11]

References

  1. Taylor, Frances (9 February 2013). "'Russell Howard's Good News' voted BBC Three's best ever show". Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  2. "Russell Howard's Good News moves to BBC Two". BBC. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  3. "Good News Team on Twitter: Good news! Russell Howard's Good News is back and now on BBCTwo from Thursday 23 October at 10pm". Twitter. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  4. "Russell Howard to make new comedy show for Sky 1". British Comedy Guide. British Comedy Guide. 29 November 2016.
  5. "'Good News' Topic Segments for Each Episode". tv.com. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  6. "'Good News' Host Russell Howard Breaks Hand on Set". huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  7. "Tory MP Philip Davies is furious after a BBC comedy show branded him a 'toad-faced hypocrite'".
  8. Sweney, Mark (29 September 2016). "Tory MP's complaint about Russell Howard jibes rejected by BBC Trust". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  9. "Top 10 Programmes". BARB. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  10. "Russell Howard's Good News – Best of Series 1". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  11. "Russell Howard's Good News – Best of Series 2". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
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