pauljdandClaude Opus 5.5
1d233c08bb
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
2.5 KiB
Orbit Three (103): the cult comedy channel
Status: agreed in principle with Paul 3 November 2026. Configured in 0.87.0 (ChannelIdentities.kt), not yet installed.
Identity: alternative British comedy for grown-ups who never quite grew up: cult sitcoms, sketch shows, the strange and the experimental, in the spirit of early BBC Three. Scottish comedy is a defining part of the channel, as Paul intended from the start. Tagline idea: "Comedy, but weirder."
History, verified: BBC Choice (1998 to 2003) aired Stressed Eric and gave Robot Wars episodes their first airing ahead of the main BBC channels. BBC Three replaced it and built itself on comedy and comedy-drama: Gavin & Stacey began there in May 2007, Being Human became one of its successes, and Family Guy and American Dad! were notable imports. Source: Wikipedia, BBC Choice and BBC Three (former), read 3 November 2026. Many supporting shows began on Channel 4 or BBC Two instead, so they're the same spirit, not BBC Three history.
Core: Still Game, Limmy's Show!, Burnistoun, Chewin' the Fat, Rab C. Nesbitt (Scottish). Gavin & Stacey, The Mighty Boosh, Little Britain, The Inbetweeners, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Spaced, Phoenix Nights.
Supporting: Gary: Tank Commander, Scot Squad, Him & Her, Bad Education, Uncle, Fresh Meat, Black Books, Coupling, Cuckoo, Lunch Monkeys, Man Like Mobeen, People Just Do Nothing, Being Human, Green Wing, This Country, Extras, The Office (UK), Toast of London, Peep Show, The IT Crowd.
Surprises: The League of Gentlemen, Nighty Night, Snuff Box, Monkey Dust, Psychoville, Inside No. 9, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, Brass Eye, The Day Today, Nathan Barley, Bo' Selecta!, Stressed Eric, Family Guy.
Time of day: 06:00 to 18:00 daytime, with the Scottish shows in the regular mix. 18:00 to 22:00 evening story comedy. 22:00 to 02:00 cult and sketch. 02:00 to 06:00 repeats. Scottish Comedy Night, Friday and Saturday 21:00 to 00:00.
Order: story sitcoms in order (Gavin & Stacey, Spaced, Fresh Meat, Phoenix Nights, Being Human, Green Wing, This Country, Extras, The Office, Him & Her, The Inbetweeners, Peep Show, Psychoville, Nathan Barley). Sketch and standalone comedy mixed.
Crossover: preferred home of Peep Show and The IT Crowd, which Orbit Gold keeps. Riot is the preferred home of Family Guy and Bo' Selecta!, kept here too.
New arrivals: British comedy from about 1998 onwards that's cult, alternative, sketch-based or for younger adults, and Scottish comedy.