ABC774 launches Comedy Hour

A diverse mixture of young, old, known and unknown comedy writers have been selected from a field of over 500 submissions to inject some humor to Melbourne’s airwaves on The Comedy Hour.

A joint initiative between ABC Local Radio and ABC TV Arts, Entertainment & Comedy, the ten-part pilot series, makes its broadcast debut next Monday July 14 at 9pm on 774 ABC Melbourne and ABC Radio Victoria.

The Comedy Hour will also be heard by listeners around the country, is available for streaming online and as a downloadable pod cast.

Hosting the Show is radio newcomer Felicity Ward, who is known to the ABC through her guest appearances on Spicks and Spicks, and is an up-and-coming sketch comedy writer, actress and stand-up.

The pool of comedy newcomers includes Simon Kreck, a 20 year old self confessed geek from Sydney, a 54 year old nana from Rockhampton, a busker-rock trio from Melbourne and more. They will be cutting their comedic teeth alongside stalwarts including Tony Martin, Angus Sampson, Casey Benetto, Sammy J, Justin Hamilton, Charlie Pickering, Alan Brough, Catherine Deveny, Scared Weird Little Guys and comic actress Marg Downey.

Comedy Hour Executive Producer Anthony Watt has told radioinfo: “The response to this idea has been phenomenal, both from industry professionals and the general public. People are obviously crying out for more comedy on the radio. You can tell by the number of entries we received – not that it made my life easier. I could hardly get into my office for all the crates of comedy. But it has paid off and we’ve ended up with a terrific mix of the new and the not-so-new.”

The Comedy Hour joins a great legacy of radio comedies such as Little Britain, Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, Flight of the Conchords and The League of Gentlemen.

The ABC’s newest radio series (10 x 1 hour) will pilot brand new formats, including a topical sketch comedy show, a movie trivia show, a music variety show, and narrative comedy.

The Comedy Hour will be available for download, podcast and streaming at abc.net.au/Melbourne/features/comedyhour from next week.

The topical sketch show “The Seven Day Itch” will be pre-recorded before a live audience at lunchtime on Mondays at the Toff in Town.

Comedy Hour Cast & Crew:

Felicity Ward: host. 26 year old Felicity Ward is comic actress turned stand-up from Sydney. She is a part of the 3rd Degree, who made and starred in ‘The Ronnie John’s Half Hour’, on the Channel 10, Australia. Felicity has also appeared several times in this year’s series of Spicks and Specks and has moved to Melbourne to star in this brand new show.

Simon Keck: Simon is a 2007 AFTRS graduate who has already developed his own podcast series that has 15 000 subscribers. Stand-up, radio presenter and self-confessed dweeb from Sydney.

Celia Pacquola: Celia is a stand-up and writer from Melbourne. A former entrant in RAW comedy in 2005 and she is currently being put through the paces writing for Good News Week.

Ann E Meharg: Ann (writer) is a 54 year old grandmother from Rockhampton. She has performed in amateur theatre and community radio, but this is her first professional gig. On a disability pension, Anne is excited about having a creative outlet, other than entertaining people at bus stops.