The Mash Report
BBC TWO, 10.00PM
This is an enticing new comedy series in which Nish Kumar puts to the test the commonly held notion that world events are so weird just now they’re actually beyond parody. Kumar is probably the fastest rising comedian on television at the moment with regular appearances on topical panel shows across all of the mainstream channels. Here he gets the ultimate prize, hosting a show that seeks to eke as much fun as possible from the “post truth” world of fake news by giving it a uniquely quick-witted and surreal satirical spin.
The idea is to emulate the acerbic humour of The Daily Mash, a popular UK website that, like America’s The Onion, relentlessly parodies the world of news and current affairs. To that end, he’s joined by a team of up-and-coming writers and comedians, including Ellie Taylor, Steve N Allen and Rachel Parris, for a mix of silly roving reports and quick-fire news analysis that is filmed before a studio audience as close to broadcast as possible to keep things topical.
As such, the content is impossible to predict but with so much talent on board, this programme promises to be both biting and bonkers. Gerard O’donovan