David Mitchell Reveals Why ‘Would I Lie to You?’ Is Better Than Ever in Season 19!

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In an exceptional manner that other countries find challenging to emulate, the United Kingdom has mastered the format of panel shows. These programs blend elements of quiz shows with comedy series, offering a structured game but in a more relaxed and low-stakes environment compared to traditional game shows; the game serves as a backdrop for various comedians, actors, musicians, and celebrities in general to amuse each other. Notable examples include “8 Out of 10 Cats,” “QI,” “Never Mind the Buzzcocks,” “Taskmaster,” “Have I Got News for You,” “Mock the Week,” and many more. Among these, “Would I Lie to You?” stands out as one of the very best.

Has “Would I Lie to You?” retained its initial spark since it debuted in 2007, with Lee Mack (“Not Going Out”) and David Mitchell (“Peep Show”) as team captains, and Rob Brydon as host since 2009? The show recently wrapped up its 18th series, and when MovieWeb interviewed David Mitchell about his crime comedy series “Ludwig,” Mitchell revealed that filming for the 19th series will begin in May and June of this year. So, after almost two decades, does working on “Would I Lie to You?” feel like an obligation or does the excitement still linger?

Mitchell affirmed that he was growing to appreciate it even more, and added that he, Lee, and Rob share a strong bond and understand each other exceptionally well. He believes they all have a good grasp of what makes a successful panel show. Continuing his thought, Mitchell said:

It seems essential for it to evoke… there should be happiness, there should be amusement. It shouldn’t resemble a chore, if it does, it appears as one, and I believe we’ve slipped into that mindset somewhat. The core of this production is its creator, a gentleman named Peter Holmes, who conceived the concept and, in America, he would be known as the showrunner, but here, he has served as the executive producer, his formal title.

Peter is deeply involved in everything and seems to thrive on the production of this show. He creates an enjoyable atmosphere by organizing the work and bringing people together, while also keeping us guessing with his spontaneous touches. This unpredictability is essential for the show’s appeal, but so too is his careful planning, including the selection of compatible guests. That’s why I believe it continues to be successful.

David Mitchell Loves Doing His Shows and That’s No Lie

Mitchel, from “Would I Lie to You?”, said after 18 years, he still finds the experience delightful. Initially, the show was quite structured and predictable, but now it’s more open-ended and quirky. The conversations on the show are unique and unexpected, something that a panel show should have. These discussions often arise spontaneously from the performers trying to entertain the audience. It’s fascinating how such oddities can emerge, making the show enjoyable in an unusual way. In essence, Mitchel still finds this genre rewarding.

Apart from expressing his satisfaction, Mitchell is equally thrilled with his latest series, “Ludwig.” Not surprisingly, it’s one of the top new shows in the UK of 2024 and ranks highly among detective series on BritBox, a platform where US viewers can access it. The show revolves around an enigmatic puzzle-maker named John Taylor, who goes by the alias ‘Ludwig.’ When his identical twin brother, DCI James Taylor, sends a cryptic message and vanishes, John’s sister-in-law pleads with him to decipher the mystery of his disappearance. This intricate puzzle leads John to impersonate James in order to uncover what has unsettled him. The series is an outstanding blend of crime and comedy, and Mitchell delivers a remarkable performance that may be the pinnacle of his career.

On BritBox, you can stream both “Ludwig” and “Would I Lie to You?”. Here’s where you can catch “Would I Lie to You!”, while for “Ludwig”, follow the provided link below:

Link for Ludwig: [Link]
Stream Would I Lie to You?: [Stream Link]

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2025-04-05 06:01