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As Mock the Week is set to end, the man who devised the show explains its charm

Dan Patterson looks back on the show's 17 glorious seasons and explains why satire remains so vital

August 11, 2022 14:30
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4 min read

Dan Patterson, producer and deviser of Mock the Week with long-time collaborator, Mark Leveson, was sitting at presenter Dara Ó Briain’s wedding when the best man stood up to give his speech.

The best man was comedian Ed Byrne, who went on to become one of the mainstays of the show. He confessed later he hadn’t bargained on his best man speech becoming his Mock the Week audition.

But that was part of the charm of a show, which spread its net far and wide to showcase the best stand-up comedians in the business. And yet, 17 years after its inception, the BBC unexpectedly announced last week that this season would be Mock the Week’s last, to the consternation of many fans and the deep disappointment of its makers and presenters.