Legendary Channel 4 comedy set for a 'funny and rude' comeback after 25 years

A legendary British comedy institution is about to make its much-anticipated return, as Channel 4's The 11 O'Clock Show prepares for a bold comeback after twenty-five years off air.

Fans of the late-night satire will be delighted to hear that original host Iain Lee is not only on board but driving the project forward himself, promising a reboot that will be, in his words, "very rude, very funny, and very 1999."

Lee spoke to the Daily Star about his determination to revive the irreverent programme. He recalled years of public demand: "Loads of you for years have been asking me to bring back The 11 O'Clock Show and I didn't think it was within my gift. I thought it had to be a channel or something."

However, Lee now believes he's in a position to make it happen: "But it is within my power to do it. So next year I will be bringing back Iain Lee's The 11 O'Clock Show."

While there's no confirmed broadcaster yet, Lee has already begun reconnecting with figures from the show's heyday. He explained, "I'm not quite sure how it's going to work yet, but I am talking to a few people who were connected to the show and we have got a few ideas bubbling around."

For fans eager to see whether this revival can recapture the anarchic spirit of the original, his promise is clear: "It will be very rude, very funny, very 1999."

The original series ran from 1998 until 2000 and quickly became notorious for its topical sketches and satirical commentary on current affairs.

It played a pivotal role in launching the careers of Sacha Baron Cohen and Ricky Gervais, both of whom became household names shortly after their appearances on the show.

Daisy Donovan co-hosted alongside Lee during three series before Jon Holmes and Sarah Alexander took over for its final run.

Iain Lee's candid humour was key to the programme's success during its first four series. After departing in 2000, he carved out a successful radio career and later appeared on ITV's I'm A Celebrity before stepping back from broadcasting in recent years to train as a counsellor. His own experiences with addiction and recovery have seen him take on new challenges away from comedy.

Despite the uncertainty over how or where the reboot will air, Lee's enthusiasm is undimmed. The Daily Star reports him as saying that he is actively developing concepts with former collaborators and that several ideas are already under discussion.