Pictured: Katherine Ryan and Rhys James

Image credits: Wikimedia Commons

On the 28th January, sitting on the U1 on the way to Leamington, I let out an embarrassingly loud gasp as I found out that Mock the Week was returning to our screens. 

The political satirical panel show originally aired on BBC Two between 2005 and 2022, lasting 21 series, and I think it is safe to say that its cancellation came as quite a shock. The reboot, which first aired on 1st February 2026 on TLC, largely sticks to the original formula of the show, just with a slightly extended runtime. Dara Ó Briain has returned as the host complete with a scoring system no one truly understands, and is joined by Rhys James as the regular panelist. 

I think it is important to note here that the show, and the maintenance of its format, absolutely still works. It has stayed simple, and this serves the show well. At the end of the day, Mock the Week is a highly enjoyable watch because it allows these incredibly talented comedians who are featured on it to just be funny, sticking to their own personal style without relying on too much structure. Unlike similar political satire shows, such as Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week is not limited to solely political discussion, and this simplicity and relaxed format undoubtedly works in its favour.

Despite all this praise I’ve given it (and much more that I’ve not said), the return of Mock the Week has raised questions about whether a traditional satire can keep up alongside the sheer speed of online political commentary. The very nature of social media is so much faster than traditional forms of media, and this includes the weekly TV cycle.

In fact, we see it time and time again with this show. With the rapid rate that news moves at the moment, it seems that even in the short time between filming and airing, episodes can feel slightly outdated and overshadowed by the next big news story that has inevitably just broken. 

Ultimately, though, even if this is the case, I still think Mock the Week is a great show and a valuable way of adding some humour to a political climate that is so often incredibly depressing. Panellists are still able to make an array of quips relating to current affairs, even if they are as absurd as Gorton and Denton trousers. 

Unfortunately, this is not the only criticism of the show. Even in the newest episodes, female panelists often make digs regarding the representation of women on the show. In 2020, Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan admitted to stepping away from the show as she felt that by appearing, she was taking the places of other women who could be granted the opportunity for such a platform. 

Despite these comments from Ryan and other female comedians, they have never spoken negatively about the show’s atmosphere and have made repeat appearances on Mock the Week (Ryan did feature in an episode of the reboot series). 

I think it is then absolutely worth pointing out that this issue is also not unique to Mock the Week. Rather, the lack of female representation is a problem that can be seen across many British comedy panel shows. British comedy has a long history of only platforming white male voices and relegating women to supporting roles. Yes, it is true that exceptions to this have existed, but they still remain few and far between in comparison, and the industry definitely has a long way to go. 

Regardless of criticisms, TLC has already announced that they will renew the show for a second series. Even with the ever-changing media landscape, it does appear that there is still value in these more traditional spaces and using them for political discussion and, despite its flaws, there is clearly still a place for televised political satire in an era dominated by instant online commentary. Viewership for the reboot has so far been high, and now the show has more clearly broken away from its initial tendency to platform only white middle-aged men, it is a welcome addition to my weekly routine. 

On a more personal note, Mock the Week was one of my earliest gateways into properly thinking about politics, and so I do think it is incredibly important that we have something like this that makes political discussion so easy and accessible for people in this era of increasing disengagement. 

Beyond being great as an introduction into politics for viewers, the show is also a great opportunity for the comedians who appear on it, allowing audiences to see a combination of familiar faces in the industry alongside some newer, less mainstream talents.