Mitchell & Webb Are Here to Help in 'Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping'

They say that comedy does better when economic situations get worse, which would explain why Channel 4 has chosen this particular moment in time to bring back the long-awaited revival of David Mitchell and Robert Webb's continuing sketch comedy franchise. The two British comedians have been bringing their irreverent nonsense to audiences since the late 1990s, when they appeared in That Mitchell & Webb Situation, followed by That Mitchell & Webb Sound on BBC Radio, which then transitioned to the small screen with That Mitchell & Webb Look. The latter of those titles found its way across the pond in the early 2010s, giving the comedians a cult following in the States; hopefully, the same will happen with their newest series, Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping.

The timing would be right for a "Mitchell-and-Webbaissnce" in the U.S. David Mitchell may not be the household name in America that he is across the pond, but his name recognition is such that his new detective series, Ludwig, was a critical darling on both sides of the pond, and a massive hit in the U.K. (It was also a pretty big hit for BritBox, when grading on a curve.) 

Whether or not BritBox will strike a deal to bring all the Mitchell & Webb sketch series to its niche offerings remains to be seen, but the streaming service did pick up all seven seasons of the Mitchell & Webb series that does not bear their moniker, Peep Show. 

Until the series has an American streaming home, we'll just have to make do with what Channel 4 offers up, like this trailer.

Here's the generalized synopsis from Channel 4:

David Mitchell and Robert Webb are returning to Channel 4 next month with a brand-new comedy sketch show, which sees them combine forces with a host of exciting and innovative future stars, marking a bold return to British sketch comedy with an innovative merging of comedy minds across generations.

Here's That Mitchell & Webb Take on the new series:

When Channel 4 asked us to do another sketch show, we were startled, bemused, and available. It’s a perilous time for the industry, so we hope relaunching the trickiest genre of comedy is a brilliant piece of counterintuitive commissioning," their blurb read. "And we’re confident that, unlike Roger Moore with his shoe on the bonnet of a car teetering on the edge of a cliff in For Your Eyes Only [REPLACE WITH 21ST CENTURY REFERENCE?], we’re not about to give British TV comedy a final lethal nudge into the abyss. We’re looking forward to working with our brilliant new cast, despite their youth and talent, and would like to encourage viewers to watch the advert carefully and do their best to buy something. It doesn’t have to be a car, but you know, a box of chocolates or an app or something.

Mitchell & Webb's core ensemble is notably drawn from both sides of the pond. They include U.K. comedians Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts) and Stevie Martin (Starstruck), Mexican-American-Venezuelan comedian Lara Ricote (GRL/LATNX/DEF), and American Krystal Evans; the two both made award-winning turns at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. All four are credited as writers on the new series along with David Mitchell and Robert Webb.

Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping will debut on Channel 4 sometime in the fall of 2025. The series does not yet have an American distributor, but we expect that to be fixed forthwith.