Thank God You're Here (British TV series)

Thank God You're Here is an improvisational comedy game show based on the original Australian show with the same name. In the show, four guests are placed into a scene they have no knowledge about and have to improvise. The series is hosted by Paul Merton, who also acts as judge and performs his own improvised scene.

Thank God You're Here
GenreImprovisational comedy
Presented byPaul Merton
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
Production locationThe London Studios
Running time60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production companyTalkback Thames
DistributorFremantle
Release
Original networkITV
Picture format16:9
Original release12 January (2008-01-12) 
16 February 2008 (2008-02-16)
Chronology
Related showsThank God You're Here

Production

The UK pilot, made for ITV by talkbackTHAMES, was announced in mid-2007.[1] The pilot was recorded on 12 November 2007 at The London Studios,[2] with Merton as the show's host (with him also featuring in a one-off improvisational scene of his own). The series started airing on 12 January 2008 on ITV.[3] The show delivered below-average ratings for ITV in its timeslot.

Episodes

Denotes the Winner


Pilot

The celebrity guests were Clive Anderson, Phil Nichol, Kirsten O'Brien and John Thomson, all of whom also played in a group scene at the end of the show. Backstage interviews with each guest after their scene were conducted by Olivia Lee. However, in the series no such interviews take place.

Episode 1: 12 January 2008

Guest star Scenario Total viewers Audience share
Hamish BlakeCar mechanic returning home to be confronted by his multiple wives.2.9m[4]12%[4]
Fern BrittonMedium attempting to contact the dead.
Ben MillerStar Trek-like spaceship captain returning to his ship.
John ThomsonA Member of Parliament appearing on a chat show discussing his last year in politics.
Warm UpsJockeys talking at a stewards enquiry / People at a Dating service
Paul MertonA secret agent returning to headquarters after a mission in Geneva.
Group sceneFour nuns discussing what they will give up for lent and praying to God.

Episode 2: 19 January 2008

Clive AndersonA flight Wing Commander discussing an upcoming bombing mission with his fellow pilots.2.7m[5]12%[5]
Hamish BlakeA recently deceased tennis player trying to talk his way into heaven.
Sally LindsayA shopaholic confronted by her husband about her huge credit card bills.
Michael McIntyreThe captain of a cruise liner confronted by angry passengers.
Warm UpsNews readers discussing the Stock Market / Being questioned at a police station for speeding
Paul MertonA butler discussing his job performance with his upper-class employees.
Group sceneFour fast-food outlet staff members in a team meeting. Clive couldn't fit through the door, due to a burger costume he was wearing

Episode 3: 26 January 2008

Marcus BrigstockeA surgeon examining a seizure patient1.9m[6]10%[6]
Lee MackA bronze-medalist Olympic athlete visiting a class of schoolchildren
Jennie McAlpineA 19th Century daughter meeting with an upper-class gentleman
Phil NicholAn estranged cowboy returning to the local tavern
Warm UpsA dentist working on a child patient with his mother / An employee having discussion with boss
Paul MertonA clown who had given a bad performance in the circus
Group sceneFour criminals planning to steal a priceless painting from a castle

Episode 4: 2 February 2008

James CordenA morning radio show host with issues2.3m[7]11%[7]
Vernon KayA dog whisperer instructing a class of owners
Phil NicholA scientist on a children's television show
Kirsten O'BrienA girl who threw a party while her parents were away
Warm UpsTV chef being interviewed / Nursery school teacher being questioned by inspector
Paul MertonA golf-playing husband at marriage counseling
Group sceneA bobsleigh team debrief

Episode 5: 9 February 2008

Rufus HoundA joyrider who has just crashed into someone's living room1.9m[8]10%[8]
Lee MackPolice inspector discussing a serial killer
Richard WilsonA toff on a picnic
Claudia WinklemanA boarding school girl having a chat with her headmistress
Warm UpsCheese Waiters / Owners of a Nursing Home in a Documentary Interview
Paul MertonTeam leader in a snow expedition
Group sceneAll are obese and discussing their weight gains at a group meeting

Episode 6: 16 February 2008

Guest starScenario
Marcus BrigstockeA cricketer speaking at a press conference
Steve FurstA student being confronted by angry housemates.
Rufus HoundA newly-wed on a honeymoon at a caravan park.
John ThomsonA Roman general reporting to the Emperor.
Warm UpsNegotiating with a suicidal man / Visiting their Dying Grandfather.
Paul MertonAn upper-class gentleman on board the Titanic.
Group sceneA super hero meeting.

Ensemble Cast

  • Tara Flynn
  • Cicely Giddings
  • Nick Haverson
  • Rufus Jones
  • Richard Katz
  • Dan Mersh
  • Aimee Parkes

References

  1. "News - Paul Merton plans ITV improv show". British Sitcom Guide. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
  2. "Thank God You're Here". Lost In TV. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  3. "News - ITV reveals 2008 comedy line-up". British Sitcom Guide. 15 November 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
  4. "No script... and no viewers". Chortle. 14 January 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  5. Holmwood, Leigh (21 January 2008). "Merton falls flat in gloomy night for ITV". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  6. Tryhorn, Chris (28 January 2008). "TV Ratings - January 26". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  7. Holmwood, Leigh (4 February 2008). "TV Ratings - February 2". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
  8. Tryhorn, Chris (11 February 2008). "TV Burp smells sweet for ITV". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
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