BBC order new shows from Jack Dee and Charlie Brooker

BBC Two has commissioned two new shows from Jack Dee and Charlie Brooker in the run up to the General Election on 7 May.

Jack Dee’s Election Helpdesk, which is based on his live show, Jack Dee’s Helpdesk, sees the comedian turned agony uncle help a live studio audience dispel their election problems and aims to shed light on their dilemmas and issues relating to the General Election.

In each episode, Dee will be accompanied by a panel of four special comedic guests. Nothing is prepared or written in advance and the panel won’t know what the audiences’ questions will be until the show begins.

He says: “As a live show, Helpdesk has proved to be an original format for comedy and a real hit around the country so we are all incredibly excited to be able to bring it to BBC Two.”

Fresh from the third series of his Weekly Wipe show, Charlie Brooker is to turn his attention to the general election in a 60-minute special.

As the nation prepares to take to the polling stations, Charlie Brooker’s Election Wipe will bring viewers a summary of the good, the bad and the inevitable ugliness of the election campaign.

Alongside comedian Morgana Robinson, Weekly Wipe’s Philomena Cunk and Barry Shitpeas will impart their ‘unique’ perspective on the politics, propaganda and party plans the nation is set to have rammed down its throat.

Charlie Brooker says: “At a time of great political uncertainty it’ll be an honour to bring some much-needed confusion to the national debate.

“Since our show transmits in the run up to the election, it will have to adhere to strict impartiality rules – which means it will, by law, be equally disparaging to all parts of the political spectrum.”

The announcement follows news that Rory Bremner will return to BBC Two in Rory Bremner’s Election Report for a timely post-election special, focusing on life after the vote.