Channel 4 has ordered Hobby Man, a four-part series from North One and Motion Content Group.
The series will follow will follow Alex Brooker as he takes a crash course in British pastimes, accompanied by personalities including comic, writer and actor Joe Wilkinson, Scarlett Moffatt, The Inbetweeners star Joe Thomas and chef broadcaster Andi Oliver.
Each hour-long episode will see Alex and one of the personalities try three hobbies, from popular British pastimes to more obscure pursuits. They will bring viewers a potted history on each activity, covering the origins and cost of the hobby to what you need to get started and the people you’re likely to meet along the way.
They will join up with social gatherings, clubs and shows, as well as meeting advocates for a variety of hobbies across the country.
Clemency Green, commissioning editor for Features and Daytime at Channel 4: “There are so many weird and wonderful things that us Brits do in our spare time, and we couldn’t wait to put the brilliant Alex Brooker through his paces.”
John Quinn, executive producer for North One: “It’s a win-win – watching Alex and his companion each week getting stuck into some of the huge range of new hobbies on offer was always going to be highly entertaining, funny and, no doubt occasionally, less than successful. But if people do like the look of what they see, there will be lots of practical information on how they can have a go themselves.”
Alex Brooker: “I’ve realised that I’m now in my late 30s and still only really like the same things as I did when I was 12 – basically football and Ghostbusters. And while most people used lockdown to find new hobbies or carry on their existing ones, I mainly watched children’s TV to keep my kids happy so I’m delighted Channel 4 have made me their Hobby Man! It’s been amazing travelling around Britain with our brilliant guests and getting out my comfort zone trying new hobbies. From learning to knit, making my own beer and getting panicked 3000ft in the air in a glider.”
Executive producers are John Quinn for North One and Melanie Darlaston for Motion Content Group. Hobby Man will air on Channel 4 in 2022.
Pippa Considine
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