The stellar line-up of famous faces taking on ITV’s The Assembly have been confirmed as the bold interview series returns for a second extended run.
National treasure Sir Stephen Fryformer Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeoncomedy legend Sir Lenny Henryactor Anna Maxwell Martin and BRIT award-winning rapper and I’m A Celebrity star Aitch will each take to the hot seat for an interview like no other.
They will face a no-holds-barred range of questions that no chat show, press junket or even parliamentary grilling has ever dared to ask.
The first series earned widespread critical acclaim with Danny Dyer, David Tennant, Jade Thirlwall and Gary Lineker’s episodes hailed the “warmest, funniest telly you’ll watch this year” (The Guardian), “the most groundbreaking TV show of the year” (Independent) and was billed as both “a breath of fresh air” (The Mirror) and “extraordinary” (Radio Times). The Times asked: “Is The Assembly the best interview show on TV?”, while LBC’s Nick Ferrari enthused: “If there is a better show made for terrestrial television this year, I’d be staggered. It is breathtaking.”
Now, The Assembly – a remarkable group of inquisitive interviewers who are autistic, neurodivergent and/or learning disabled – will be back putting their unique questions to this new batch of brave celebrities, where the rules remain the same: no question is off the table and no topic is out of bounds.
The series now extends to a 7×30” run, which includes The Assembly: Unseen episode. Sir Stephen Fry and Nicola Sturgeon will air as episodes 1 and 2, respectively, this April (dates and times to be announced). Plus, the sixth and final celebrity rounding out this star-studded roster will be confirmed at a later date.
The series is produced by Rockerdale Studios and was commissioned by Katie Rawcliffe, Director of Entertainment, Reality & Daytime Commissioning ITV and David Smyth, Entertainment Commissioner ITV. The Executive Producers are Michelle Singer and Stu Richards for Rockerdale Studios. It will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
The Assembly series 1 is available to stream on ITVX and STV Player.
Katie Rawcliffe, Director of Entertainment, Reality & Daytime Commissioning ITV said: “This line-up really does offer something for everyone – The Assembly’s no-holds-barred questions throw up all kinds of surprising revelations.”
David Smyth, Entertainment Commissioning Editor ITV: “The Assembly are raring to go and with such a unique mix of famous faces to interview, they will have a ball coming up with their next set of questions. These celebrities really do need to be ready for anything.”
Michelle Singer, Rockerdale Studios: “We’re thrilled to be back and, better yet, back with such a fantastic group of celebrities getting the The Assembly treatment. Lots of surprises and laughter on the way, I guarantee.”
Stu Richards, Rockerdale Studios: “Buzzing to be back. We’ve got national treasures all over this series. And some fantastic celebrity guests, too.”
The show’s format is an adaptation of French format The Papotin Meetingsfrom Kiosco.tv, Quad+Ten and Can’t Stop Media, which has featured appearances from notable French figures including President Emmanuel Macron, who was memorably asked by the panel if it’s really role model behaviour to marry one’s teacher. It currently airs in 16 territories including Canada, Australia and Brazil.
ENDS
Note to editors:
The Assembly qualifies for ITV’s Diversity Commissioning Spend, a ring-fenced £80 million in the content commissioning budget over the next three years, for programmes that meet the qualifying criteriawhich includes diverse company ownership or leadership, or two of the remaining three criteria around either diverse creative leadership, diverse stories and portrayal on-screen, or diverse salary spend.
Rockerdale Studios is a Channel 4 Indie Growth Fund company and is part of the STV Studios family of labels.
About ITV
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In Media & Entertainment, ITV commissions brilliant programmes. ITV makes them available to audiences through its family of channels, the biggest commercial network in the UK, and through ITVX, the ad-funded, free streaming home for ITV and new programme premieres.