The Russell Howard Hour

The Russell Howard Hour is a British topical comedy news show, which airs on Sky One and is hosted by Russell Howard where he gives his thoughts and opinions on current topics as well as featuring special guests and other stand-up comedians. The show is in a similar style to his previous show, Russell Howard's Good News, which aired on BBC Three and then BBC Two from 2009 to 2015.

The Russell Howard Hour
Also known as	Russell Howard's Home Time (2020)
Genre	Topical comedy stand-up, satire
Created by	Russell Howard
Presented by	Russell Howard
Theme music composer	Sergio Pizzorno
Opening theme	"Ill Ray (The King)" by Kasabian
Composer	Sam Gale
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	4 (+1 spinoff)
No. of episodes	50
Production
Producers	Dan Atkinson Jason Dawson Robyn O'Brien
Production locations	Studio TC1, Television Centre, London[1] (2017–) Bath, Somerset (Home Time, 2020)
Running time	60 minutes (Regular, inc. adverts) 30 minutes (Spinoff, inc. adverts)
Production companies	Avalon Television[2] Sky Production Services
Release
Original network	Sky One
Picture format	576i (16:9 SDTV) 1080i (HDTV)
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	21 September 2017 – present
Chronology
Related shows	Russell Howard's Good News
External links
Website

On 28 November 2017, it was announced that the show had been recommissioned for a second series,[3] which began on 8 November 2018. Unlike the first series, the second series does not have a stand-up guest. Instead there is a segment titled "Live Forever" where Howard and another comedian test ways to live longer.

On 24 January 2019, it was announced that the show had been recommissioned for a third and fourth series.[4] In Series 3, there was a segment called "Play Date" (which replaced "Live Forever") which showed Howard spending time with a celebrity.

In Spring 2020, shortly after the end of series 3, the fourth series was revealed to be delayed until early Autumn that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Howard created a spin-off series called "Russell Howard's Home Time", featuring a similar format as the original show, except for a shorter 30-minute episode runtime.[5] The programme was filmed at his home in Bath, Somerset due to social distancing measures, and began on 9 April 2020, running for 9 episodes.

The fourth series of The Russell Howard Hour began on 10 September 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the first episode of the series did not have a live audience. From episode two onwards, a live audience returned, albeit split into socially distanced groups.

On 17 December 2020, it was announced that the show had been recommissioned for a fifth and sixth series

Transmissions

Series	Start date	End date	Episodes
1	21 September 2017	21 December 2017	14
2	8 November 2018	28 February 2019	14
3	7 November 2019	27 February 2020	15
HT	9 April 2020	7 May 2020	9
4	10 September 2020	TBA	TBA

Viewing figures

Episode viewing figures from BARB's Top 10 Programmes until September 2018[6] and the Four-screen Dashboard for September 2018 onwards.[7]

Series 1

Episode no.	Airdate	7 day viewers (millions)	28 day viewers (millions)	Sky One weekly ranking	Multichannels rank	Guest	Stand-up comic
1	21 September 2017	0.69	0.83	2	8	Diane Abbott	Kiri Pritchard-McLean
2	28 September 2017	0.70	0.82		14	Adam Kay	Harry & Chris
3	5 October 2017	0.65	0.72	3	18	Greg Davies	Desiree Burch
4	12 October 2017	0.62	0.73		25	Richard Branson	Phil Ellis
5	19 October 2017	0.64	0.69	4	23	Fiona Bruce	Anna Mann
6	26 October 2017	0.69	0.78	6		Ed Sheeran	Rob Auton
7	2 November 2017	0.63	0.75	5	24	Daryl Davis	Harry & Chris
8	9 November 2017	0.69	0.76		23	Harry Leslie Smith	Paul Chowdhry
9	16 November 2017	0.56	0.63	7	N/A	Naomi Klein	Mo Gilligan
10	23 November 2017	0.58	0.68	3	N/A	Juan Mata	Julian Deane
11	30 November 2017	0.47	0.57	8	N/A	Roisin Conaty	Fern Brady
12	7 December 2017	0.58	0.65	6	N/A	Sarah Millican	Mae Martin
13	14 December 2017	0.62	0.78	3	N/A	Jamie Oliver	Ed Gamble
14	21 December 2017	0.59	0.75	4	N/A	John Oliver	Harry & Chris

Series 2

In series 2, the stand-up comic segment at the end of each episode was replaced with 'Live Forever.' In the segment, Howard and another comedian try an activity that is purported to improve health. Episode 7 was a Christmas Special.

Episode no.	Airdate	7 day viewers (millions)	28 day viewers (millions)	Sky One weekly ranking	Multichannels rank	Guest	Live Forever
1	8 November 2018	0.51	0.55	6	N/A	Rukmini Callimachi	Pantsdrunk with Greg Davies
2	15 November 2018	0.48	0.57	8	N/A	Alesha Dixon	Chinese medicine with Jimmy Carr
3	22 November 2018	0.29	0.41	8	N/A	Louis Theroux	Dead bodies with Rose Matafeo
4	29 November 2018	0.42	0.54	6	N/A	Derren Brown	Cryotherapy with Paul Chowdhry
5	6 December 2018	0.48	0.54	4	N/A	Michelle Wolf	Ice baths with Paul Chowdhry
6	13 December 2018	0.39	0.45	6	N/A	Magid Magid	Shaman with Roisin Conaty
7	20 December 2018	0.53	0.64	6	N/A	Chris O'Dowd	Choir singing with Joe Wilkinson
8	17 January 2019	0.40	0.46	7	N/A	Rob Delaney	Bungee dance with Jessica Knappett
9	24 January 2019	0.49	0.54	6	N/A	Will Poulter	Cuddle therapy with Jon Richardson
10	31 January 2019	0.40	0.46	9	N/A	Mark Prince	Art therapy with Jo Brand
11	7 February 2019	0.35	0.41	9	N/A	Jon Ronson	Goat yoga with Mo Gilligan
12	14 February 2019	0.35	0.43	7	N/A	Stacey Dooley	Boxing with Joe Lycett
13	21 February 2019	0.34	0.39	8	N/A	Richard Curtis	Museum of Happiness with Lou Sanders
14	28 February 2019	0.38	0.45	9	N/A	Stephen Merchant	Ikigai with Iain Stirling and David Seaman

Series 3

In series 3, the 'Live Forever' segment was replaced with 'Play Date.' In the segment, Howard and another comedian try an activity that they have never done before.

Episode no.	Airdate	7 day viewers (millions)	28 day viewers (millions)	Sky One weekly ranking	Multichannels rank	Guest	Play Date
1	7 November 2019	0.54	0.59	2	N/A	Ant Middleton	Beekeeping with Aisling Bea
2	14 November 2019	0.47	0.51	2	N/A	Tyson Fury	Flyboarding with Jon Richardson
3	21 November 2019	0.35	0.43	4	N/A	Sinéad Burke and Rapman	None[note 1]
4	28 November 2019	0.52	0.59	1	N/A	Kevin Smith[8]	Going to a pub with Elizabeth Banks[8]
5	5 December 2019	0.41	0.46	1	N/A	Carole Cadwalladr	Hot tugging with Tan France
6	12 December 2019	0.38	0.42	3	N/A	David Baddiel	A perfect night in with Jack Black
7	19 December 2019	0.59	0.69	1	N/A	Brian Cox	Trampolining with Emily Atack
8	30 December 2019	0.35	0.37	5	N/A	Best Bits of 2019[note 2]
9	16 January 2020	0.30	0.34	13	N/A	Jamali Maddix	Stunt school with Paul Chowdhry
10	23 January 2020	0.30	0.33	10	N/A	Iman Amrani and Seann Walsh	None[note 3]
11	30 January 2020	0.31	0.36	9	N/A	Armando Iannucci and Michael Patrick	None[note 4]
12	6 February 2020	0.38	0.42	8	N/A	Guz Khan and Jim Carrey	None[note 5]
13	13 February 2020	0.35	0.38	7	N/A	Konnie Huq	Barging with Josh Widdicombe
14	20 February 2020	0.36	0.41	9	N/A	Eniola Aluko and Kerry Godliman	None[note 6]
15	27 February 2020	0.31	0.35	8	N/A	Daisy Haggard	Driving down the A127 dual carriageway with Joe Wilkinson

Russell Howard's Home Time

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, series 4 was delayed until later in the year. This spin-off series filmed from Howard's home in Somerset features chats with celebrity guests, comedians and musical performances using Zoom. During the finale episode, Howard revealed that the regular show would return sometime in September 2020.

Episode	Original airdate[note 7]	Guests	Celebrity/musical guests	Musical performance
1	9 April 2020	Glen Walton	Greg Davies and James Bay	"Hold Back the River"
2	14 April 2020	Aoife Abbey	Jon Richardson and Gavin Osborn	"Born in the NHS"
3	16 April 2020	Ninette Howard	Michelle Wolf, Geraint Thomas and Lady Leshurr	"Quarantine Speech"
4	21 April 2020	Hassan Akkad	Jack Whitehall and Serge Pizzorno	"Lockdown"
5	23 April 2020	Caitlin Grant	Guz Khan and Harry & Chris	"Lockdown Life"
6	28 April 2020	Lucy Craig	Stephen Merchant and Tom Grennan	"Oh Please"
7	30 April 2020	Lisa King	Louis Theroux and Guvna B	"Fall On Me"
8	5 May 2020	N/A	Joe Gilgun, Katherine Ryan and Zuzu	"How It Feels"
9	7 May 2020	The Corona Arms	Marc Maron and Tom Walker	"Leave a Light On"

Series 4

On 7 May 2020, Howard revealed in his spinoff series finale that the fourth series of The Russell Howard Hour would return in September 2020. However, due to the ongoing pandemic situation, this will be the first series to have no audience and only a skeleton crew, due to social distancing requirements.

Episode	Original airdate	Guests	Life Lessons [note 8]	Good Deeds
1[9]	10 September 2020	John Oliver	I Wish I Was An Expert In...	Emdad Rahman, Book Bike London
2[10]	17 September 2020	Lady Leshurr	The Phrase That Makes My Blood Boil	Imogen, 7 Million Keepie Uppie Challenge
3[11]	24 September 2020	Elizabeth Day	My Sexual Awakening	Mike Trower, Cooking With Cody
4[12]	1 October 2020	Kevin Bridges and Jessica Brown Findlay	The Childhood Memory That Just Won't Go Away	Grace Beards and Jodie Larsen, Paws & Pause
5[13]	8 October 2020	Mo Gilligan and Slim	If I Could Communicate With Animals	Standup by Slim
6[14]	15 October 2020	Greg Davies, Alex Horne and James Bay	My Weird Obsession	Ali Alzein, Bees And Refugees
7[15]	22 October 2020	Rosie Jones	A Job I Secretly Think I'd Be Good At	Wesley Hamnett, Glasgow2Manchester
8[16]	29 October 2020	Dizzee Rascal	My Irrational Fear	Mike Trower, Cooking With Cody
9[17]	5 November 2020	Brian Blessed	An Award I Should Win That Doesn't Exist	Mark Humphries, Kidmenace Studios
[18]	12 November 2020	Best of Guests
10[19]	19 November 2020	Matthew McConaughey	My Worst Business Idea	Emma Walkerdine, Anger Van
11[20]	26 November 2020	Tim Minchin	Here's Something That Should Have Been Taught In School...	Kaz Foncette, Wigs For Heroes
12[21]	3 December 2020	Richard Herring	Something I Would Make Illegal...	Carl Bradley, The Boot Room
13[22]	10 December 2020	Jamie Redknapp, Matt Forde	I Would Love To Life Swap With...	David Ible & Sachin Rajkumarsingh, Aura Care
14[23]	17 December 2020	Joel Dommett, Matt Lucas, Flo and Joan	My Favourite Christmas Memory Ever	[note 9]

Notes

1. There was no 'Play Date' in this episode. Instead, Burke and Rapman were interviewed separately, over two parts.
2. This was a special 2019 in review compilation episode. This episode features interviews clips with Stephen Merchant, Sinéad Burke, Tyson Fury, Rapman, Jon Ronson, and Kevin Smith; 'Live Forever' clips with Mo Gilligan and Jessica Knappett; and 'Play Date' clips with Jack Black, Aisling Bea, and Tan France.
3. There was no 'Play Date' in this episode. Instead, Amrani and Walsh were interviewed separately, over two parts.
4. There was no 'Play Date' in this episode. Instead, Iannucci and Patrick were interviewed separately, over two parts.
5. There was no 'Play Date' in this episode. Instead, Khan and Carrey were interviewed separately, with Carrey's interview being filmed on location, away from the studio.
6. There was no 'Play Date' in this episode. Instead, Aluko and Godliman were interviewed separately, over two parts.
7. Episodes on Sky One are shown on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
8. Aisling Bea, Guz Khan, Jessica Brown Findlay, Iain Stirling, Phil Wang, Joe Wilkinson, London Hughes, Taylor Tomlinson & Paul Chowdhry share their life lessons regarding one given issue.
9. Because of musical guests Flo and Joan no Good Deeds were shown.

References

1. "BBC Studioworks re-opens Television Centre | Other confirmed shows include a brand new production for Sky – The Russell Howard Hour". advanced-television.com. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
2. "THE RUSSELL HOWARD HOUR - Avalon Management". Avalon Management. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
3. "The Russell Howard Hour Series 2 confirmed for 2018". British Comedy Guide. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
4. "Sky orders two more series of The Russell Howard Hour". British Comedy Guide. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
5. "Russell Howard brings new 'Home Time' show twice a week to Sky". www.skygroup.sky. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
6. "Top 10 Programmes". BARB. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
7. "Four-screen dashboard". BARB. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
8. "The Russell Howard Hour | Season 3 Episode 4". Sky. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
9. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 1".
10. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 2".
11. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 3".
12. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 4".
13. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 5".
14. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 6".
15. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 7".
16. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 8".
17. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 9".
18. "The Russell Howard Hour "Best of The Guests" - Series 4, Compilation".
19. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 10".
20. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 11".
21. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 12".
22. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 13".
23. "The Russell Howard Hour - Series 4, Episode 14".

External links

• The Russell Howard Hour at IMDb
• The Russell Howard Hour at British Comedy Guide
• The Russell Howard Hour on Twitter