Hot Picks: Tracey Ullman’s Show

There hasn’t been a British sketch show that has captured global attention since Little Britain, which ended back in 2006.

Modern Times Group-owned distributor DRG is hoping the BBC’s latest attempt, revolving around comedian Tracey Ullman, will reverse this trend.

Tracey Ullman’s Show marks the comedian’s return to British TV. Ullman, whose eponymous 1980s sketch show for US network Fox launched The Simpsons, most recently fronted State Of The Union for pay network Showtime.

Her new show will take more of a current affairs approach. Each episode follows characters who reflect the modern world, with Ullman portraying a multitude of diverse and distinct characters living in, or visiting, the busy global hub that is the UK.

It is produced in-house by the BBC as well as through Allan McKeown Presents, the indie set up by Ullman’s late husband.

DRG, which previously distributed McKeown’s ITV comedy Mumbai Calling, is launching the show at Mipcom.

DRG executive vice-president of content Noel Hedges says: “Tracey has fans all over the world. We are really excited to bring her new series to market.”

DRG, which now counts former Bullseye chief executive Ed Crick as creative director, is also launching a number of factual entertainment formats at Mipcom, including ITN Productions’ Super- sized for C5 and Watch’s Objective- produced reality house-hunting series Honey I Bought The Office.