Alex Horne is to make a one-off special for the Dave channel featuring his backing band The Horne Section.

The two-hour show follows the success of Horne’s format Taskmaster for the channel and will be recorded live at the London Palladium.

Producers Avalon promise a ‘spontaneous and free-wheeling combination of live music and comedy… with several stupid but catchy songs’.

The jazz/comedy night will also feature guest performances from music and comedy stars, with the latter also interviewed by Horne in his distinctively offbeat way.

Horne said: ‘I’m pretty sure no-one’s ever tried combining music with comedy before, let alone filming the whole thing and putting it on TV, so we’re pretty excited to see how Twitter will cope with jazz and jokes for two hours. Good luck everyone!’

Hilary Rosen, one of the commissioners at Dave’s parent company UKTV, added that Horne is ‘a mastermind when it comes to originating fresh comedy ideas and this special will not disappoint.’

As well as Horne himself, the Horne Section comprises Joe Auckland (trumpet and banjo), Mark Brown (saxophone), Will Collier (bass), Ben Reynolds (drums and percussion) and Ed Sheldrake (keyboards).

The band is a favourite on the festival circuit and has previously made three series for Radio 4.

They are the only band to have hosted an episode of Nevermind the Buzzcocks on BBC Two and regularly appear in dictionary corner on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown

The show will be recorded on Wednesday April 18 for broadcast later in the year. Click here to apply for free tickets.

Their Dave special will air later this year.

Published: 5 Mar 2018