Hypothetical (TV series)

Hypothetical is a British television comedy panel show created by British comedian Josh Widdicombe, with Tom Craine and Matthew Crosby.[1] Widdicombe hosts the show alongside fellow comedian James Acaster. The TV series features teams of celebrity guests (often comedians), who are presented with a bizarre hypothetical situation by Widdicombe. The guests must explain how they would deal with the situation, following the rules given by Acaster, who then awards points based on how well he thinks they have done. The show was first broadcast on Dave on 6 February 2019.[2]

Hypothetical
Title card for Hypothetical
GenreComedy
Panel game
Created byJosh Widdicombe
Tom Craine
Matthew Crosby
Written byTom Craine
Matthew Crosby
Presented byJosh Widdicombe
James Acaster
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes16
Production
ProducersSophie Le Good
Joe McVey
Stu Mather
Josh Widdicombe
Running time60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production companyHat Trick Productions
Release
Original networkDave
First shown inUnited Kingdom
Original release6 February 2019 (2019-02-06) 
present
External links
Official website

Format

The general format of the show involves the host, Josh Widdicombe presenting the guests with a hypothetical situation to which they must provide their take on the best way of approaching the given situation, following the rules laid out by Acaster. The guest is then awarded points by Acaster, from 0 to 5, based on the quality of their answers, and the team with the most points at the end of the show wins. After awarding the points Acaster may present his solution to the hypothetical situation that would have gained all 5 points.[3]

In addition to general discussion between the hosts and guests, the show also features pre-recorded filmed inserts, and some role-play of the guests' suggested solution with James Acaster in the studio.

Production

Hypothetical was devised by Widdicombe with Matthew Crosby and Tom Craine, who also act as writers.[4] The initial idea of the show was pitched via a WhatsApp conversation,[5][6] and subsequently developed by London-based Hat Trick Productions and commissioned as a UKTV Original for Dave by Richard Watsham, UKTV’s director of commissioning and Steve North, genre general manager for entertainment and comedy, in July 2018. Joe McVey was announced as executive producer alongside Stu Mather at Hat Trick Productions with Sophie Le Good as producer.[7]

The show is filmed in front of a live audience at Pinewood Studios.[8] The first series was filmed in August and September 2018.[9] Acaster and Widdicombe have previously worked together, with Acaster appearing often as a guest on Widdicombe's XFM (now Radio X) show.

Widdicombe said of the TV show, and working with Acaster:[9][10]

“I have spent the last decade of my life annoying other comics with these questions in cars and dressing rooms so I am delighted Dave have allowed me to claim that I was in fact researching a show and not just wasting everyone’s time. More to the point I cannot wait to work alongside the man who makes me laugh more than anyone else in comedy. I just hope this goes better than our 2009 Edinburgh show (one star, Three Weeks magazine).”

This 2009 Edinburgh show was the work of Widdicombe, Acaster and Nick Helm, and, according to Widdicombe, the criticism they received for it was read out during filming of Hypothetical to warm up the audience.[11]

The announcement of Hypothetical caused controversy due to a perceived similarity to the Danielle Ward podcast Do The Right Thing which had been made into a television pilot but not commissioned.[12]

Episodes

Series 1

Series 1 was broadcast on Wednesdays at 10pm on Dave, with episodes available On-Demand at UKTV Play. Each episode features four guest panellists in two teams of two, alongside the hosts Widdicombe and Acaster.[13]

No.
overall
No. in
series
GuestsOriginal air dateUK Viewers[14]28-Day Viewers
11Rob Beckett & Jessica Knappett
Liza Tarbuck & Tom Allen
6 February 2019 (2019-02-06)475,755731,572[lower-alpha 1]
22Romesh Ranganathan & Rachel Parris
Jon Richardson & Rose Matafeo
13 February 2019 (2019-02-13)538,776596,816
33Sara Pascoe & Lou Sanders
Nish Kumar & Ed Gamble
20 February 2019 (2019-02-20)379,690420,727
44Romesh Ranganathan & Rosie Jones
Kerry Godliman & Matt Forde
27 February 2019 (2019-02-27)233,800273,701
55Dara Ó Briain & Kiri Pritchard-McLean
Suzi Ruffell & Nish Kumar
6 March 2019 (2019-03-06)270,149318,436
66Roisin Conaty & Phil Wang
Victoria Coren Mitchell & Darren Harriott
13 March 2019 (2019-03-13)347,271383,325
77Katherine Ryan & John Robins
Ivo Graham & Cariad Lloyd
20 March 2019 (2019-03-20)288,989325,941
88Sara Pascoe & Guz Khan
Cariad Lloyd & David O'Doherty
27 March 2019 (2019-03-27)321,061332,838

Series 2

No.
overall
No. in
series
GuestsOriginal air dateUK Viewers[14]28-Day Viewers
91Maisie Adam & Jonathan Ross
Sara Barron & Rob Beckett
5 February 2020 (2020-02-05)390,544TBA
102Richard Ayoade & Sindhu Vee
Ed Gamble & Chloe Petts
12 February 2020 (2020-02-12)N/ATBA
113Tom Allen & Felicity Ward
Sue Perkins & Alex Brooker
19 February 2020 (2020-02-19)N/ATBA
124Angela Barnes & Guz Khan
Tom Davis & Harriet Kemsley
26 February 2020 (2020-02-26)N/ATBA
135Nish Kumar & Jen Brister
Rob Beckett & Lou Sanders
4 March 2020 (2020-03-04)N/ATBA
146Stephen Mangan & Tessa Coates
Charlie Brooker & Shappi Khorsandi
11 March 2020 (2020-03-11)N/ATBA
157Johnny Vegas & Zoe Lyons
Sara Pascoe & Richard Osman
18 March 2020 (2020-03-18)N/ATBA
168Jamali Maddix & Laura Lexx
Rosie Jones & Joe Lycett
25 March 2020 (2020-03-25)N/ATBA

Notes

  1. Also includes pre-transmission viewers, as the first episode was released on UKTV Play prior to first linear broadcast.

References

  1. Guide, British Comedy. "Hypothetical - Dave Panel Show". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  2. "Hypothetical TV Guide from RadioTimes". Radio Times.
  3. Bennett, Steve (6 February 2019). "Hypothetical: TV Preview". Chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  4. "TV Review: Hypothetical, Dave". Beyond The Joke. 6 February 2019.
  5. "Josh Widdicombe and James Acaster get Hypothetical with Dave | News | UKTV Corporate Site". corporate.uktv.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  6. Creamer, Jon (25 July 2018). "Hat Trick creates new panel show Hypothetical for Dave". www.televisual.com. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  7. "UKTV's Dave preps "Hypothetical" comedy panel show". Realscreen.com.
  8. "Pre-registration for HYPOTHETICAL with JOSH WIDDICOMBE & JAMES ACASTER from SRO Audiences". www.sroaudiences.com. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  9. "James Acaster and Josh Widdicombe to host new panel show : News 2018 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  10. White, Peter (25 July 2018). "Josh Widdicombe & James Acaster To Host UKTV Comedy Format As Virgin Media Carriage Dispute Rumbles On". Deadline. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  11. Carson, Sarah (5 February 2019). "Josh Widdicombe interview: 'Worrying is what drives people to be good'". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  12. "TV Review: Hypothetical Series 1 Episode 1". Comedy to Watch. 27 March 2019.
  13. "FIRST LOOK: Hypothetical on Dave". UK Air Dates. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  14. "Four-screen dashboard BARB". www.barb.co.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
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