The Russell Howard Hour

The Russell Howard Hour
Also known asRussell Howard's Home Time (2020)
GenreTopical comedy
Stand-up comedy
Satire
Created byRussell Howard
Presented byRussell Howard
Theme music composerSergio Pizzorno
Opening theme"Ill Ray (The King)" by Kasabian
ComposerSam Gale
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series6 (+1 spin-off)
No. of episodes86 (+9 spin-off)
Production
ProducersDan Atkinson
Jason Dawson
Robyn O'Brien
Production locationsStudio TC1, Television Centre, London[1] (2017–2022)
Bath, Somerset (Home Time, 2020)
Running time60 minutes (Regular, inc. adverts, series 1–5)
45 minutes (Regular, inc. adverts, series 6)
30 minutes (spin-off, inc. adverts)
Production companiesAvalon Television[2]
Sky Production Services
Original release
Network
Release21 September 2017 (2017-09-21) –
15 December 2022 (2022-12-15)
Related
Russell Howard's Good News

The Russell Howard Hour is a British topical comedy news television series that premiered on Sky One on 21 September 2017. The series is hosted by Russell Howard where he gives his thoughts and opinions on current topics as well as featuring special guests and other stand-up comedians. The show is in a similar style to his previous show, Russell Howard's Good News, which aired on BBC Three and then BBC Two from 2009 to 2015.

Production

[edit]

On 28 November 2017, it was announced that the show had been recommissioned for a second series,[3] which began on 8 November 2018. Unlike the first series, the second series does not have a stand-up guest. Instead there is a segment titled "Live Forever" where Howard and another comedian test ways to live longer.

On 24 January 2019, it was announced that the show had been recommissioned for a third and fourth series.[4] In Series 3, there was a segment called "Play Date" (which replaced "Live Forever") which showed Howard spending time with a celebrity.

In spring 2020, shortly after the end of series 3, the fourth series was revealed to be delayed until early Autumn that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Howard created a spin-off series called "Russell Howard's Home Time", featuring a similar format as the original show, except for a shorter 30-minute episode runtime.[5] The programme was filmed at his home in Bath, Somerset due to social distancing measures, and began on 9 April 2020, running for 9 episodes.

The fourth series of The Russell Howard Hour began on 10 September 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first episode of the series did not have a live audience. From episode two onwards, a live audience returned, albeit split into socially distanced groups.

On 17 December 2020, it was announced that the show had been recommissioned for a fifth and sixth series.

On 8 September 2022, the first episode of the sixth series was originally going to air, but it got pulled off air following the news of Queen Elizabeth II's death that night. After 2 days of delay, the episode was finally broadcast on Sky Max.

With the closure of Sky One, the original channel for The Russell Howard Hour, it was announced that the series would move to Sky Max.[6]

With the exception of the Home Time spin-off, all episodes of the programme have been recorded at Television Centre in London.[7]

Transmissions

[edit]
Series Start date End date Episodes Notes
1 21 September 2017 21 December 2017 14
2 8 November 2018 28 February 2019 14
3 7 November 2019 27 February 2020 15
HT 9 April 2020 7 May 2020 9
4 10 September 2020 17 December 2020 15
5 9 September 2021 30 December 2021 15
6 10 September 2022* 29 December 2022 15 Series 6 was originally scheduled to premiere on 8 September 2022 but was pulled off of air, following the death of Elizabeth II.

Viewing figures

[edit]

Episode viewing figures from BARB's Top 10 Programmes until September 2018[8] and the Four-screen Dashboard for September 2018 onwards.[9]

Series 1

[edit]
Episode
no.		 Airdate 7 day viewers
(millions)		 28 day viewers
(millions)		 Sky One
weekly ranking		 Multichannels
rank		 Guest Stand-up comic
1 21 September 2017 0.69 0.83 2 8 Diane Abbott Kiri Pritchard-McLean
2 28 September 2017 0.70 0.82 14 Adam Kay Harry & Chris
3 5 October 2017 0.65 0.72 3 18 Greg Davies Desiree Burch
4 12 October 2017 0.62 0.73 25 Richard Branson Phil Ellis
5 19 October 2017 0.64 0.69 4 23 Fiona Bruce Anna Mann
6 26 October 2017 0.69 0.78 6 Ed Sheeran Rob Auton
7 2 November 2017 0.63 0.75 5 24 Daryl Davis Harry & Chris
8 9 November 2017 0.69 0.76 23 Harry Leslie Smith Paul Chowdhry
9 16 November 2017 0.56 0.63 7 — Naomi Klein Mo Gilligan
10 23 November 2017 0.58 0.68 3 — Juan Mata Julian Deane
11 30 November 2017 0.47 0.57 8 — Roisin Conaty Fern Brady
12 7 December 2017 0.58 0.65 6 — Sarah Millican Mae Martin
13 14 December 2017 0.62 0.78 3 — Jamie Oliver Ed Gamble
14 21 December 2017 0.59 0.75 4 — John Oliver Harry & Chris

Series 2

[edit]

In series 2, the stand-up comic segment at the end of each episode was replaced with 'Live Forever.' In the segment, Howard and another comedian try an activity that is purported to improve health. Episode 7 was a Christmas Special.

Episode
no.		 Airdate 7 day viewers
(millions)		 28 day viewers
(millions)		 Sky One
weekly ranking		 Guest Live Forever
1 8 November 2018 0.51 0.55 6 Rukmini Callimachi Pantsdrunk with Greg Davies
2 15 November 2018 0.48 0.57 8 Alesha Dixon Chinese medicine with Jimmy Carr
3 22 November 2018 0.29 0.41 8 Louis Theroux Dead bodies with Rose Matafeo
4 29 November 2018 0.42 0.54 6 Derren Brown Cryotherapy with Paul Chowdhry
5 6 December 2018 0.48 0.54 4 Michelle Wolf Ice baths with Paul Chowdhry
6 13 December 2018 0.39 0.45 6 Magid Magid Shaman with Roisin Conaty
7 20 December 2018 0.53 0.64 6 Chris O'Dowd Choir singing with Joe Wilkinson
8 17 January 2019 0.40 0.46 7 Rob Delaney Bungee dance with Jessica Knappett
9 24 January 2019 0.49 0.54 6 Will Poulter Cuddle therapy with Jon Richardson
10 31 January 2019 0.40 0.46 9 Mark Prince Art therapy with Jo Brand
11 7 February 2019 0.35 0.41 9 Jon Ronson Goat yoga with Mo Gilligan
12 14 February 2019 0.35 0.43 7 Stacey Dooley Boxing with Joe Lycett
13 21 February 2019 0.34 0.39 8 Richard Curtis Museum of Happiness with Lou Sanders
14 28 February 2019 0.38 0.45 9 Stephen Merchant Ikigai with Iain Stirling and David Seaman

Series 3

[edit]

In series 3, the 'Live Forever' segment was replaced with 'Play Date.' In the segment, Howard and another comedian try an activity that they have never done before.

Episode
no.		 Airdate 7 day viewers
(millions)		 28 day viewers
(millions)		 Sky One
weekly ranking		 Guest Play Date
1 7 November 2019 0.54 0.59 2 Ant Middleton Beekeeping with Aisling Bea
2 14 November 2019 0.47 0.51 2 Tyson Fury Flyboarding with Jon Richardson
3 21 November 2019 0.35 0.43 4 Sinéad Burke and Rapman None[note 1]
4 28 November 2019 0.52 0.59 1 Kevin Smith[10] Going to a pub with Elizabeth Banks[10]
5 5 December 2019 0.41 0.46 1 Carole Cadwalladr Hot tugging with Tan France
6 12 December 2019 0.38 0.42 3 David Baddiel A perfect night in with Jack Black
7 19 December 2019 0.59 0.69 1 Brian Cox Trampolining with Emily Atack
8 30 December 2019 0.35 0.37 5 Best Bits of 2019[note 2]
9 16 January 2020 0.30 0.34 13 Jamali Maddix Stunt school with Paul Chowdhry
10 23 January 2020 0.30 0.33 10 Iman Amrani and Seann Walsh None[note 3]
11 30 January 2020 0.31 0.36 9 Armando Iannucci and Michael Patrick None[note 4]
12 6 February 2020 0.38 0.42 8 Guz Khan and Jim Carrey None[note 5]
13 13 February 2020 0.35 0.38 7 Konnie Huq Barging with Josh Widdicombe
14 20 February 2020 0.36 0.41 9 Eniola Aluko and Kerry Godliman None[note 6]
15 27 February 2020 0.31 0.35 8 Daisy Haggard Driving down the A127 dual carriageway with Joe Wilkinson

Russell Howard's Home Time

[edit]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, series 4 was delayed until later in the year. This spin-off series filmed from Howard's home in Somerset features chats with celebrity guests, comedians and musical performances using Zoom. During the finale episode, Howard revealed that the regular show would return sometime in September 2020.

Episode Airdate[note 7] Guests Celebrity/musical guests Musical performance
1 9 April 2020 Glen Walton Greg Davies and James Bay "Hold Back the River"
2 14 April 2020 Aoife Abbey Jon Richardson and Gavin Osborn "Born in the NHS"
3 16 April 2020 Ninette Howard Michelle Wolf, Geraint Thomas and Lady Leshurr "Quarantine Speech"
4 21 April 2020 Hassan Akkad Jack Whitehall and Serge Pizzorno "Lockdown"
5 23 April 2020 Caitlin Grant Guz Khan and Harry & Chris "Lockdown Life"
6 28 April 2020 Lucy Craig Stephen Merchant and Tom Grennan "Oh Please"
7 30 April 2020 Lisa King Louis Theroux and Guvna B "Fall On Me"
8 5 May 2020 N/A Joe Gilgun, Katherine Ryan and Zuzu "How It Feels"
9 7 May 2020 The Corona Arms Marc Maron and Tom Walker "Leave a Light On"

Series 4

[edit]

On 7 May 2020, Howard revealed in his spin-off series finale that the fourth series of The Russell Howard Hour would return in September 2020. However, due to the ongoing pandemic situation, this will be the first series to have no audience and only a skeleton crew, due to social distancing requirements.[citation needed]

Episode Airdate 7 day viewers
(millions)		 28 day viewers
(millions)		 Sky One
weekly ranking		 Guests Life Lessons[note 8] Good Deeds
1 10 September 2020 0.60 0.62 4 John Oliver I Wish I Was An Expert In... Emdad Rahman, Book Bike London
2 17 September 2020 0.44 0.52 5 Lady Leshurr The Phrase That Makes My Blood Boil Imogen, 7 Million Keepie Uppie Challenge
3 24 September 2020 0.42 0.46 5 Elizabeth Day My Sexual Awakening Mike Trower, Cooking With Cody
4 1 October 2020 0.37 0.45 6 Kevin Bridges and Jessica Brown Findlay The Childhood Memory That Just Won't Go Away Grace Beards and Jodie Larsen, Paws & Pause
5 8 October 2020 0.37 0.42 6 Mo Gilligan and Slim If I Could Communicate With Animals Standup by Slim
6 15 October 2020 0.43 0.57 4 Greg Davies, Alex Horne and James Bay My Weird Obsession Ali Alzein, Bees And Refugees
7 22 October 2020 0.26 0.40 4 Rosie Jones A Job I Secretly Think I'd Be Good At Wesley Hamnett, Glasgow2Manchester
8 29 October 2020 0.44 0.52 3 Dizzee Rascal My Irrational Fear Mike Trower, Cooking With Cody
9 5 November 2020 0.41 0.46 3 Brian Blessed An Award I Should Win That Doesn't Exist Mark Humphries, Kidmenace Studios
10 12 November 2020 — — — Best of Guests
11 19 November 2020 0.43 0.52 3 Matthew McConaughey My Worst Business Idea Emma Walkerdine, Anger Van
12 26 November 2020 0.39 0.49 3 Tim Minchin Here's Something That Should Have Been Taught In School... Kaz Foncette, Wigs For Heroes
13 3 December 2020 0.39 — 3 Richard Herring Something I Would Make Illegal... Carl Bradley, The Boot Room
14 10 December 2020 0.40 0.42 3 Jamie Redknapp, Matt Forde I Would Love To Life Swap With... David Ible & Sachin Rajkumarsingh, Aura Care
15 17 December 2020 0.45 0.53 3 Joel Dommett, Matt Lucas, Flo and Joan My Favourite Christmas Memory Ever [note 9]

Series 5

[edit]
Episode Airdate 7 day viewers
(millions)		 28 day viewers
(millions)		 Sky Max
weekly ranking		 Guests Life Lessons Good Deeds
1 9 September 2021 Katie Piper, Aaron Simmonds, Iain Stirling
2 16 September 2021 Robert Peston, Janine Harouni, Paul Chowdhry, Daniel Ricciardo
3 23 September 2021 Tom Grennan, Paul Sinha
4 30 September 2021 David Harewood, Joy Crookes, Lucy Beaumont
5 7 October 2021 Sophie Willan, Andrew Bird, Andrew Steele
6 14 October 2021 Billy Connolly, Everyone You Know, Isy Suttie
7 21 October 2021 Edgar Wright, Steven Pinker, Fatiha El-Ghorri
8 4 November 2021 Evanna Lynch, Joe Wilkinson, Jordan Brookes
9 11 November 2021 Lou Sanders, Akala, Knucks, Kojey Radical, Swindle
10 18 November 2021 Susie Dent, Paul Merson, Harriet Dyer
11 25 November 2021 Gabby Logan, Jimmy Carr, Jacob Hawley
12 2 December 2021 Jordan Peterson, Guz Khan, Self Esteem
13 9 December 2021 Steven Bartlett, Josh Widdicombe, Cat Burns
14 16 December 2021 Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Fred Sireix, Flo & Joan

Series 6

[edit]
Episode Airdate 7 day viewers
(millions)		 28 day viewers
(millions)		 Sky Max
weekly ranking		 Guests Life Lessons Good Deeds
1 10 September 2022 Jamali Maddix
2 22 September 2022 Fern Brady
3 29 September 2022 Paul Chowdhry
4 6 October 2022 Maisie Adam
5 13 October 2022 Michelle Wolf
6 20 October 2022 Troye Hawke
7 3 November 2022 Greta Thunberg
8 10 November 2022 Kiri Pritchard-McLean
9 17 November 2022 Glenn Moore
10 24 November 2022 Jordan Gray Shad Chefs Man Hub
11 1 December 2022 London Hughes
12 8 December 2022 Sam Campbell
13 15 December 2022 Garth Marenghi

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ There was no 'Play Date' in this episode. Instead, Burke and Rapman were interviewed separately, over two parts.
  2. ^ This was a special 2019 in review compilation episode. This episode features interviews clips with Stephen Merchant, Sinéad Burke, Tyson Fury, Rapman, Jon Ronson, and Kevin Smith; 'Live Forever' clips with Mo Gilligan and Jessica Knappett; and 'Play Date' clips with Jack Black, Aisling Bea, and Tan France.
  3. ^ There was no 'Play Date' in this episode. Instead, Amrani and Walsh were interviewed separately, over two parts.
  4. ^ There was no 'Play Date' in this episode. Instead, Iannucci and Patrick were interviewed separately, over two parts.
  5. ^ There was no 'Play Date' in this episode. Instead, Khan and Carrey were interviewed separately, with Carrey's interview being filmed on location, away from the studio.
  6. ^ There was no 'Play Date' in this episode. Instead, Aluko and Godliman were interviewed separately, over two parts.
  7. ^ Episodes on Sky One are shown on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
  8. ^ Aisling Bea, Guz Khan, Jessica Brown Findlay, Iain Stirling, Phil Wang, Joe Wilkinson, London Hughes, Taylor Tomlinson & Paul Chowdhry share their life lessons regarding one given issue.
  9. ^ Because of musical guests Flo and Joan no Good Deeds were shown.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "BBC Studioworks re-opens Television Centre | Other confirmed shows include a brand new production for Sky – The Russell Howard Hour". advanced-television.com. September 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  2. ^ "THE RUSSELL HOWARD HOUR - Avalon Management". Avalon Management. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  3. ^ "The Russell Howard Hour Series 2 confirmed for 2018". British Comedy Guide. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Sky orders two more series of The Russell Howard Hour". British Comedy Guide. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Russell Howard brings new 'Home Time' show twice a week to Sky". www.skygroup.sky. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  6. ^ Darvill, Josh (23 August 2021). "The Russell Howard Hour series 5 to begin on September 9". TellyMix. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Sro audiences". Archived from the original on 24 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Top 10 Programmes". BARB. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Four-screen dashboard". BARB. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  10. ^ a b "The Russell Howard Hour | Season 3 Episode 4". Sky. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Russell_Howard_Hour&oldid=1263988277"