The 11 O'Clock Show

Hosts and presenters

The 11 O'Clock Show underwent a number of line-up changes during its run. There are numerous cases of external-segment reporters becoming studio hosts, and vice versa. Notable presenters and cast members included:

• Iain Lee
• Simon Greenall (in character as Vim Van Der Laan)
• Daisy Donovan (in character as Pandora Box-Grainger)
• Mackenzie Crook
• Paul Garner
• Sacha Baron Cohen (in character as Ali G)
• Ricky Gervais
• Fred MacAulay
• Brendon Burns
• Sarah Alexander
• Jon Holmes
• Rich Hall
• Alex Lowe
• Will Smith
• Tommy Vance
• Ricky Grover
• Danny Bhoy
• Marc Wootton
• Jason Priestley
• Jimmy Carr

Production

The 11 O'Clock Show was written, recorded and transmitted on the same day, similar to The Daily Show (1996).

James Bobin was a director and writer and helped create the characters of Ali G, Borat and Brüno.

"Ali G was the thing that kept the 11 O'Clock Show going. If we hadn't of had Ali G, the 11 O'Clock Show would have died." - Iain Lee

MacKenzie Crook joined the show in Series 2.

Ricky Gervais (54 episodes) joined The 11 O’Clock Show team for Series 3 replacing Sacha Baron Cohen (45 episodes).

Charlie Brooker was a writer.

"the show had been given the specific instruction, unbeknownst to me, to shock. Shock and offend was more important than being funny... The Ali G stuff was hilarious, the Ricky Gervais stuff was divisive but hilarious. But a lot of it wasn't very funny." - Iain Lee

Sarah Alexander joined the show in Series 5.

Controversy

In January 2000, the show came under criticism from the Broadcasting Standards Commission following viewer complaints about comments made on the show about recently deceased TV presenter Jill Dando, songwriter Bobby Willis (the husband of entertainer Cilla Black) and golfer Payne Stewart.

In January 2000, the Independent Television Commission upheld complaints from viewers for sketches about the 1999 Armenian parliament shooting.

References

References

1. (20 January 2011). "Channel 4's 10 O'Clock Live: The 11 O'Clock Show at 10 O'Clock?".
2. Westbrook, Caroline. (2018-03-26). "Iain Lee personally apologises to Richard Madeley for 11 O'Clock Show remarks".
3. "Ali G was originally called The Yoof Wanker".
4. "The 11 O’Clock Show".
5. (10 June 2013). "Daisy Donovan: 'I still can't believe I asked Denis Healey if he'd given Margaret Thatcher a pearl necklace'".
6. Ferguson, Euan. (2004-08-29). "'I don't mind if they point and laugh'". The Observer.
7. "Inside Comedy - Interviews - Paul Garner".
8. (2000-11-10). "Controversial 11 0'Clock Show faces axe as Channel 4's new line-up launched".
9. (9 December 1999). "Why do I squirm whenever Ali G is on the box?".
10. (2011). "Audience, Text and Context: Television Comedy and Social Critique". [[Faculty of Social Sciences, Ljubljana]] [[University of Ljubljana]].
11. Pilley, Max. (2024-10-25). "Ricky Gervais celebrates 26 years since being made redundant, which led to standup success: "I was 37"".
12. Hendry, Steve. (2015-03-08). "Fred MacAulay prepares to step down from long-running BBC Scotland radio show".
13. (2005-11-09). "Sarah Alexander: Blonde ambition".
14. (2000-10-02). "Holmes to present 11 O'Clock Show".
15. BBC. "BBC - Comedy - People A-Z - Rich Hall".
16. "Alex Lowe, comedian news : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide".
17. (2005-12-04). "Tommy Vance". The Observer.
18. "Oi, watch my show". The Scotsman.
19. "Jimmy Carr". [[The Times]].
20. "Flight of the Conchords". HBO.
21. "Past Presenters and Reporters".
22. "Ricky Gervais".
23. "Ali G".
24. (16 March 2025). "11 O’clock Show 2000".
25. "IN CONVERSATION WITH CHARLIE BROOKER".
26. "Alexander, Sarah (1971-) Biography". [[British Film Institute]].
27. (27 January 2000). "Channel 4 rapped over Dando". BBC News.
28. "Channel 4 rapped over Dando". [[BBC News]].
29. (18 January 2000). "Peak Practice sex claims criticised". The Guardian.