Eggheads moving to C5

I would guess the BBC had axed it and 12 Yard approached Channel 5 who were likely looking for something to air in early peak.

It’s funny how Channel 5 always gets slagged off on TVForum but yet Channel 4 poach things like Taskmaster and no one bats an eyelid

I wonder how long it'll take Channel 4 to pick up The Mash Report?

The Mash Report wasn’t exactly well loved!

It could be argued, though, that Taskmaster was a show that was on the way up (shown on a digital channel and attracting a cult following) that was given its mainstream break by Channel 4.

The acquisition of Bake Off, on the other hand, was widely ridiculed, as that was a show on top of its game on one of the UK's most mainstream channels - a different matter to Taskmaster and therefore discussed differently. (Although I would argue that C4 have made Bake Off work for them despite the valid concerns and criticisms aired 4-and-a-half years ago when the move was revealed.)

The various C5 pick-ups that have been discussed upthread were shows that were (or are) on the way down when picked up by C5. It certainly seems as though Eggheads was a show in this regard.

I was going to say what has already been said upthread, though - it makes sense in the context of Jeremy Vine being a C5 face these days. If the quiz had a different presenter, perhaps it might not have been such an obvious 'fit' for the channel. Dare I suggest that it also fits in with the demographic of C5 these days? Those people who enjoy the documentaries etc that C5 show may well be partial to a bit of Eggheads, with its gentle and inoffensive vibe.

Mash Report has already been poached by someone (before the news today) and it’s not C4.

I wonder if Jeremy had a part to play in getting it back on air. Insisting on a quiz in his next contract perhaps?!

I’m guessing Dave or Comedy Central, Leaning towards Dave as CC’s original commissions have been more panel shows

The Mash Report reminded me of The 11 O'Clock Show. You watched it because the Ali G (Sacha Baron Cohen) sketches were exceptional, but the rest of the sketches, including early Ricky Gervais material wasn't great, although some of the Daisy Donovan material was ok.

Mash in comparison I watched for the Rachel Parris segments, yet the rest of the content never really hit the spot. If you're going to do left-wing skewed comedy, it has to hit the spot and it rarely did.

By some it wasn't, but it did 4 series which is pretty good for a comedy series these days so they must have been doing fairly well.

It's real value is online, it did what so many other programmes try and fail and that's get their content going viral. Some of their items, especially the Rachel Parris monologues were absolutely everywhere online the morning after they went out. It was social media gold

I once oversaw Editorial Strategy within the social media division of BBC Content.

The Mash Report was a mainstay of our social channels - nothing compared. It garnered massive, often resoundingly positive engagement. It reached people the BBC rarely reaches.

It was stardust. pic.twitter.com/hsiAgyD3h7

— Owen Williams 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@OwsWills) March 12, 2021

It was a bit hit and miss, normally the first half was better than the second.

It's worth remembering that it did feature and launch the career of one of the country's few explicitly right-wing comedians, Geoff Norcott.

I'm not sure it was/is 'left-wing skewed' anyway, it's just that the political party in power during its time on air were extremely right-wing. Satire isn't meant to agree with those in charge

Really? So does that mean that it wasn't actually axed by the BBC, just poached. Or did the BBC get rid of it and someone else get in quick?

GB News?

Exactly Rachel Parris was the only good part of the show. Mash reminded me of when Fox News tried to do a right wing version of The Daily Show. Utterly painful. Trying way too hard and unnatural.