Will Mellor, Ralf Little front new factual entertainment series for U&Dave
July 10, 2024
Will Mellor and Ralf Little will bring their renowned chemistry to U and U&Dave later this year with Will & Ralf Should Know Better (4×60’). Pulling back the curtain on a bickering bromance that stretches over 20 years, Will and Ralf are finding out how they can do life better as two middle aged men in their forties.
Each themed episode will see the pair embark on a series of encounters and challenges that will test their attitudes on everything from embracing their ‘spiritual’ side, facing their fear of aging and discovering the perils of living off grid with no toilet paper. Viewers will be privy to all the action alongside the fly-on-the-wall intimate conversations that only two best mates could have.
Whether they’re being open hearted and honest, ridiculously competitive, or just winding each other up, Will and Ralf Should Know Better will let the nation bear witness to two friends getting life right but more often getting it oh so very wrong.
Mellor commented: “I’ve wanted to do a series like this for years! Going on a journey with Ralf to open our minds and push our limits … what could possibly go wrong!? We’re both in our 40s now and probably a bit set in our ways, so now is the perfect time to see how we could be doing life better. Hopefully, we’ll come out of it better equipped for the modern world and, ideally, still in one piece.”
Little said: “I am thrilled to be working with Will again as it’s always so much fun. We’ve just finished our podcast tour and I thought I might get a bit of a break from him! This time we get to explore how we should be living in the modern world while educating ourselves and having a laugh at the same time. I can’t wait to get going”.
Will and Ralf Should Know Better is commissioned for UKTV by Jason Dawson, commissioning executive. The series is ordered by Cherie Hall, Dave channel director and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning. Will and Ralf Should Know Better is produced by Edinburgh TV Festival’s Small Indie of The Year, Afro-Mic Productions, and supported by Northern Ireland Screen. The executive producers are Alison Foster and Emma-Rosa Dias.
Jason Dawson commented: “I think we all get to a point in life where the world feels like it’s moving too fast, so making a show that mischievously explores this through the lens of a friendship that’s evolved (or not as the case may be) over twenty years feels incredibly timely and relevant to our audience. We’re hugely excited to be working with Will Mellor, Ralf Little and Afro-Mic to bring this to screens later this year.”
Cherie Hall said: “Will Mellor and Ralf Little are two hugely beloved stars whose onscreen and offscreen chemistry and warmth is an absolute delight. Viewers will love joining them on this journey through modern day life.”
Emma-Rosa Dias, Afro-Mic Productions, added: “We are very excited to be producing this new series for U&Dave. We can’t wait to get on the road with Will and Ralf, two of Britain’s best loved and funniest friends, as they challenge themselves and each other on a journey around the UK to get to grips with the modern world.”
Will and Ralf Should Know Better joins a string of comedy entertainment commissions on the channel this year, alongside Battle In The Box hosted by Jimmy Carr, Follow The Leader with Jamali Maddix, returning series of Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish, World’s Most Dangerous Roads, Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable and scripted comedy Meet The Richardsons, with brand new Silence is Golden hosted by Dermot O’Leary and featuring Katherine Ryan to come in 2025.
Will and Ralf Should Know Better will air on U&Dave and stream on U later this year, following the launch of U next week – a new masterbrand that will unite UKTV’s family of free-to-air channels and its free streaming service. Launching in this summer, the move will see current streaming service UKTV Play transition to U, and UKTV’s family of free-to-air channels will become U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&YESTERDAY and U&W.