Paul Whitehouse fronting new show about history of his favourite comedy sketches

Paul Whitehouse is fronting a new show about the history of comedy sketches.

The former ‘Fast Show’ star, 66, will host ‘Paul Whitehouse’s Sketch Show Years’ on Gold, which will be curated and narrated by the comic and take viewers on a journey through his favourite British skits from the last 60 years – with each episode covering a decade.

Paul said about the upcoming show, which will aur in June: “I don’t generally describe myself as an expert in anything – but I suppose it’s fair to say if there’s one subject I do know a bit about, it’s sketch comedy.

“It’s been great going back over the classics and reminding myself what’s really made me laugh and inspired me the most since I was a kid.”

Shows including ‘The Two Ronnies’, ‘Not the Nine O’Clock News’, ‘Harry Enfield and Chums’, ‘The Fast Show’ and ‘The Catherine Tate Show’ are set to be featured.

The series was commissioned for UKTV by its head of factual and factual entertainment Helen Nightingale, and ordered by Gerald Casey, channel director for Gold and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning.

It is produced by North One Television with John Quinn as executive producer and Chris Hill and Julia Hunter as series producers.

Helen said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to be working with North One again, and with Paul Whitehouse on this series.

“Sketch shows are a much-loved genre in TV comedy history and are deeply ingrained in British culture – and who better than Paul Whitehouse to take us on a funny, nostalgic trip down memory lane?”

Gerald Casey added: “We are delighted to have Paul Whitehouse back on the channel, he is a comedy legend and I know that Gold viewers are going to be so excited to hear his take on the sketch shows from the last five decades.”