Mock the Week returns to UK screens on Sunday 1st February 2026 – and after three years in the wilderness, Britain’s sharpest topical comedy panel show has found a new home on TLC.
There was genuine mourning in comedy circles when the BBC announced Mock the Week’s cancellation in August 2022. After 17 years of skewering the news, politicians, and anything else that moved, the corporation decided it was time to retire Dara Ó Briain’s beloved panel show. The final episode aired in October 2022, and that, it seemed, was that.
Except it wasn’t.
Mock the Week is returning to our screens on Sunday 1st February at 9pm, finding a new home on TLC as part of Warner Bros Discovery’s relaunch of the free-to-air channel. And Dara Ó Briain is back in the host’s chair, exactly where he belongs.
Why Did the BBC Cancel It in the First Place?
The official line from the BBC was the usual corporate speak about “making room for new comedy” and the show having “a brilliant run”. Reading between the lines, Mock the Week had become something of an institution – and institutions, by their nature, can feel a bit dusty to commissioning editors always chasing the next thing.
There was also the small matter of the pandemic. Like many topical shows, Mock the Week struggled during lockdown when there was essentially only one news story, and filming with socially distanced panellists never quite captured the chaotic energy that made the show work.
But here’s the thing: viewers never fell out of love with it. The announcement of its cancellation prompted the kind of outcry usually reserved for beloved soap characters being killed off. Sometimes, it turns out, the commissioners get it wrong.
What’s Different This Time?
The most significant change is the format. Mock the Week now runs for a full hour rather than the previous thirty minutes. That’s twice the jokes, twice the improvised brilliance, and presumably twice the opportunities for Hugh Dennis to deliver the perfect deadpan one-liner.
The extended runtime should allow the show to breathe in a way it sometimes couldn’t before. The original format occasionally felt rushed, with rounds squeezed in and panellists barely getting warmed up before the credits rolled. An hour gives everyone more room to play.
The classic rounds are all returning: “If This Is The Answer, What Is The Question?”, “Wheel of News”, “Picture of the Week”, and the perennial favourite “Scenes We’d Like to See” – responsible for more comedy careers than any drama school.
Who’s On the Panel?
The booking department has clearly been busy. Across the nine-episode series, viewers can expect appearances from Rhys James, Sara Pascoe, Angela Barnes, Ed Byrne, Ahir Shah, Milton Jones, Katherine Ryan, Hugh Dennis, Sarah Keyworth, Lou Sanders, Glenn Moore, Ellie Taylor, and Russell Howard.
That’s a proper mix of Mock the Week veterans and fresh voices. Hugh Dennis was there from series one, while acts like Sarah Keyworth and Ahir Shah represent the newer generation of circuit headliners. It suggests the production team – Angst are handling duties – understand that the show needs both continuity and evolution.
Should You Watch?
Dara himself put it best when discussing the return: “I’m genuinely delighted to be back doing Mock the Week and on TLC. From what I remember, it’s a show that thrives on silly jokes from smart people and any actual insight is purely accidental.”
That self-deprecating wit is exactly why Mock the Week worked in the first place. In an era of increasingly serious political commentary, there’s something refreshing about a show that treats the news as fodder for daft gags rather than earnest analysis.
The current news cycle certainly isn’t short of material. If anything, the past three years have provided enough absurdity to fuel panel shows until the end of time.
Mock the Week returns Sunday 1st February at 9pm on TLC. Set your reminders – British comedy just got one of its best formats back.
Mock the Week airs Sundays at 9pm on TLC, with new episodes weekly.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Mock the Week return?
Mock the Week returns Sunday 1st February 2026 at 9pm on TLC.
What channel is Mock the Week on in 2026?
Mock the Week is now on TLC, which is available free on Freeview channel 43, Sky channel 137, and Virgin channel 135.
Who hosts Mock the Week 2026?
Dara Ó Briain returns as host for the TLC revival.
How long is the new Mock the Week?
The new format runs for one hour, double the original 30-minute episodes on BBC Two.
Related: [What’s On TV Tonight Sunday 1 February 2026](/whats-on-tv-tonight-sunday-1-february-2026/) | [Sunday TV Guide](/whats-on-tv-tonight-sunday/)
