David Farnor | On 23, Apr 2020

Charlie Brooker is returning to BBC Two during these strange times for a new special, Antiviral Wipe.

For the first time since the Bafta-winning 2016 Wipe, Brooker has been lured out of isolation, to go into isolation for the one-off half-hour programme.

Charlie will be taking a typically sharp look at life in lockdown, in a show made during lockdown. As well as coverage of the crisis itself, he’ll also be looking at the things people are watching and doing to keep themselves occupied. The show will feature Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) with her own very special brand of in-depth reporting, alongside Barry Shitpeas (Al Campbell) and other contributors who haven’t been told they’re doing it yet, but have no good excuse not to.

Brooker says: “The BBC asked me to supply a quote for the press release, which is what you’re reading now.”

The new special is one of several new commissions from BBC Two, including Comedians Playing With Themselves, a six-part short-form series that will see some of the nation’s favourite comics – including Bob Mortimer, Kerry Godliman, Tom Allen, Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar, Tez Ilyas, Russell Kane, Sally Phillips and Mat Horne – tasked with entertaining and enlightening the nation in their own unique way.

Following the success of last year’s anarchic mockumentary, The Road To Brexit, cult favourite Matt Berry (What We Do In The Shadows) will also return to BBC Two with four more 15-minute episodes that will take on a bold and eclectic selection of new themes.

Beginning in May, Thursday nights on BBC Two will be home t comedy programming, including the debut of The First Team, from the creators of The Inbetweeners, alongside a new run of QI. Then later in the year, the Thursday night comedy line-up will feature the second season of What We Do In The Shadows and There She Goes.

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