Beloved satirical panel show Mock The Week is set for a surprise return to television screens, just three years after its cancellation. The show's long-time host, comedian Dara Ó Briain, has officially confirmed the revival, though he admits he's unsure how long the new incarnation will last.
The Comeback Announcement
Ó Briain, 53, who fronted every episode of the BBC Two programme during its 17-year run, broke the news during an appearance on the Where There's A Will, There's A Wake podcast. His revelation prompted a gasp from host Mel Giedroyc. "Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. We’re doing more of them, so we’ll be back being giddy again," Ó Briain stated. He quipped, "So it turns out that while I can die, Mock the Week cannot."
The series, which first aired in 2005 and was axed in 2022, took a weekly comedic look at current affairs. Ó Briain was a constant presence alongside fellow regular Hugh Dennis. Reflecting on the dynamic with fellow comedian Ed Byrne, Ó Briain added, "The laughter is usually genuine on these shows but there are times when you know you’ve absolutely lost it and Ed and I had that over each other and will do again."
A New Home on TLC
While Ó Briain did not specify if the show would return to BBC Two, it has since been confirmed that a "new-look Mock The Week" will form part of the schedule for Warner Bros. Discovery's channel, TLC, in January 2026. The channel is moving to free-to-air in the UK, replacing HGTV on Freeview.
Graham Lafferty, TLC's content chief, said: “We are thrilled to announce a new-look line-up of content for TLC in the UK and Ireland for January 2026... we are excited to commission and curate a broad entertainment channel... including a new-look British comedy staple like Mock The Week." The UK debut of TLC will also feature shows like The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon.
Uncertain Future and Past Goodbyes
Despite the excitement, Ó Briain injected a note of realism about the show's future in today's competitive TV landscape. "In today’s commercial… who knows for how long… but it’s all gravy! It’s with the whole gang, back messing around," he remarked.
The show's cancellation in 2022 was met with sadness. At the time, Ó Briain shared a characteristically witty statement: "That's it folks, the UK has finally run out of news. The storylines were getting crazier and crazier - global pandemics, divorce from Europe, novelty short-term prime ministers. It couldn't go on."
In related news, former Mock The Week star Milton Jones announced earlier this year that he is now "cancer free" after undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, forcing him to pause his touring schedule. He publicly thanked medical staff and his support network in August.
