If experience has taught us anything, it is that heavy rainfall, Labour party meltdown and Jose Mourinho tantrums herald summer’s end and, as the seasons transition, accompanying autumn’s advent will always be daily revelations of star names seeking reinvention through TV’s perennial cold weather staples. Sure enough, the Strictly and I’m A Celebrity line-ups are already being unveiled in all their glitzy glory, yet the shadowy cabal behind another established hit – the rib-tickling BBC Two series Mock the Week – have so far chosen to remain resolutely tight-lipped as the decade old programme readies to return from 10pm on Thursday September 10th.

For fans of the topical show, it is a truth universally acknowledged that Dara O Briain will be taking the chair for a record 143rd time when series 14 begins its six week second half run, and bookmakers have for some time been refusing to take bets on Hugh Dennis and Andy Parsons also being part of the star studded cast. But the identities of the rest of the sixteen contestants slated to join them remain as puzzling as the plot of True Detective season two, at least until now…

Thanks to exhaustive investigative journalism and relentless pressure, we were able to force a show insider to exclusively confirm the names of some of the upcoming panellists: “I can exclusively confirm Josh Widdicombe, Rob Beckett and Sara Pascoe will once again be appearing below the famous old globe and am willing to acknowledge social media speculation about Romesh Ranganathan, Katherine Ryan, Ed Byrne and Milton Jones is at least 100% spot on.

“MOCK THE WEEK” RETURNS TO BBC TWO FOR AUTUMN RUN: CAST EXCLUSIVES

“Furthermore, according to this producer’s laptop that I found in a train toilet, it definitely looks like James Acaster, Ed Gamble and Holly Walsh will also be sitting listening to that song by The Jam on at least one Thursday between now and mid- October and, I can promise you, if you tune in, you’ll find something funnier than an Australian batting collapse and filled with more embarrassments for politicians than a drinks party at Lord Sewel’s flat” he continued, before adding: “That’ll be £150 mate or the deal’s off.”

Mock the Week was created by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson, the creative force behind the iconic improv-based show Whose Line Is It Anyway? a fourth season of which has recently been ordered by the CW Network in the US. Pinki Chambers is the Executive Editor for the BBC. It is produced for the BBC by independent production company Angst Productions. Series 14 returns for six weeks in September and October with a festive special later in the year.

For further information please contact:
Anya Noakes / Kat Blair, Publicists for Angst Productions 07973 363341 / 07969 443090
anya@prmatters.biz / kat@prmatters.biz