Netflix, BBC Studios Audio Set Podcast ‘The Big Pitch With Jimmy Carr’

Netflix and BBC Studios‘ BBC Studios Audio unit have unveiled the commission of comedy podcast The Big Pitch With Jimmy Carr. It will be co-produced by Netflix Podcasts and BBC Studios Audio and be available for audiences globally from today, Wednesday, May 28.

“There are over 27,000 different Netflix sub-categories. And they can get pretty niche. From ‘Steamy Crime Movies from the 1970s’ to ‘Australian Dysfunctional Family Comedies Starring A Strong Female Lead,’ the genres get really, really niche,” the partners quipped in a Wednesday announcement. “The Big Pitch With Jimmy Carr sees a parade of much-loved comedians pitch movie ideas to Jimmy, our sceptical host, which fit Netflix’s most obscure sub-genres. Guests are challenged to figure out the plot and cast under the pressure of Jimmy’s withering gaze. At the end of the pitch, Jimmy decides whether to move to greenlight or condemn our guests and their dubious ideas to development hell.”

The program is BBC Studios Audio’s first podcast commission for Netflix

Across the 10 episodes of the podcast, guests will include Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed, Phil Wang, Romesh Ranganathan, Ahir Shah, Kerry Godliman, Michelle Wolf, London Hughes, Chris McCausland, Jamali Maddix, and Asim Chaudhry.

“By night, I’m a stand-up comedian, but by day I have a proper job in real show business,” said Carr, joking: “I commission movies for Netflix. So, if you’ve ever seen a movie you liked on Netflix – you’re welcome. This podcast gives a glimpse behind the scenes of the rigorous pitching process, and it’s also a good excuse to mess around with some very funny friends.”

The Big Pitch With Jimmy Carr is a co-production by Netflix and BBC Studios Audio. From BBC Studios Audio, the executive producer is Pete Strauss, with production executive Ian Heydon, production manager Mabel Finnegan-Wright, and production coordinator Becky Carewe-Jeffries. BBC Studios Audio’s creative director for comedy & entertainment is Richard Morris, and the deal was brokered by Claire Long. From Netflix, the executive producers on the podcast are Kathryn Huyghue, Erica Brady, and David Markowitz.

The series will be available worldwide to listeners wherever they get their podcasts, with “fully visualized episodes” available on the Netflix Is A Joke YouTube channel.

BBC Studios Audio’s work includes such investigative serials as Stalked, To Catch A Scorpion, and Things Fell Apart, such long-running Radio 4 series as Desert Island Discs and In Our Time; as well as such podcasts as You’re Dead to Me and Evil Genius.