The Stage

BBC3 will beam sketch show to mobile phones

Published Friday 21 October 2005 at 15:00 by Liz Thomas

Ash Atalla, producer of The Office, has revealed that new comedy sketch show Man Stroke Woman will be available on the internet and on mobiles.

Audiences will be able to watch the show, which starts on November 20, on www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree and catch up if they miss an episode. All episodes will be available to view for up to seven days after the final programme of the six-part series is aired.

In addition, sneak preview sketches will be available to download on video-enabled mobile phones by texting Man to 81010.

Stuart Murphy, outgoing controller of BBC3, says: “This is the first time that we have been able to exploit all available elements together on one show - broadband premiere, catch-up and preview clips for mobile phones. All of them offer audiences more control and greater access to our programmes.”

The show stars Shaun of the Dead’s Nick Frost, Daisy Haggard from Green Wing and Clocking Off actor Ben Crompton.

Atalla said: “Man Stroke Woman is a sketch show that takes a comic look at everyday life, scenarios at work, in friendships, love and life, that will strike a chord with any self-respecting thirtysomething.”

The digital channel will be doing the same for new series of comedies Ideal and Tittybangbang early next year.

These services are part of the BBC’s TV Plus project led by director of television Jana Bennett to exploit the opportunities that new technologies offer to extend a programme’s life beyond the traditional broadcast.

In July, BBC3 became the first UK channel to premiere its programmes on broadband when it streamed hit comedy The Mighty Boosh a week ahead of its transmission.