Channel 4 wants fifth look at Peep Show

Ben Dowell
Wednesday March 21, 2007
MediaGuardian.co.uk

Peep Show: Channel 4 wanted to ensure it could secure Mitchell and Webb for a fifth series

Channel 4 has commissioned a fifth series of the cult comedy series Peep Show before the fourth series has even finished filming.

Such was the confidence of the channel in the comedy starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb that it asked the production company Objective Productions to give them another six-part outing.

However, Channel 4 is hoping that the show performs better in the ratings; the most recent series hovered around the 1.3 million mark at 10pm on Friday nights.

"It is such a good show and we didn't want to get into a situation where we couldn't get Robert and David when we wanted them," said a senior Channel 4 executive of the show, referring to the duo's other commitments, including their BBC2 sketch show That Mitchell and Webb Look, which usually attracts in excess of 2 million viewers.

Peep Show is unusual for its filming technique, with the camera viewing the world from the perspectives of the various characters.

"People who love it love it and rightly so, but for the next two series we will be hoping for it to do in ratings terms what it has always done in terms of its sheer quality."

Andrew Newman, the Channel 4 head of comedy and entertainment said of the Peep Show recommission: "In terms of writing, performance and all over style, Peep Show has always been a work of sheer quality - of course we'd love it if the ratings caught up with the show's and it's star's formidable reputation but part of Channel 4's public service remit is to commission and produce excellent programmes and Peep Show fulfils that 100%".

Last December, Peep Show beat Extras to the best comedy prize at the British Comedy Awards.

At the previous year's awards, Ricky Gervais lambasted the TV industry for failing to vote for Peep Show.

"It's the best show on television today," he exclaimed, adding that it was a "debacle" that the show did not win a gong.

His comments were used in the poster campaign for series three, which still failed to attract big ratings.

Channel 4 has also asked Objective to make four more episodes of Star Stories and is expected to continue with the format of mock biopics of assorted celebrities on an "ad hoc basis".

Stars who could be the butt of the next round of satirical shows include the rock stars Robbie Williams and Paul McCartney, but the channel has refused to confirm any of the names.

The first series poked fun at figures including George Michael, David Beckham and Madonna.