Ed Gamble and Joanne McNally are hosting a new panel show, Unacceptable, where six comedians intentionally try to be as provocative as possible by bringing their most offensive opinions to the table. The show, which launches July 5 on TLC, aims to satirize cancel culture in a light-hearted way.
Controversial Premise and Cast
The premise is simple: comedians pitch their most offensive opinions to swing the studio audience in their favor. Romesh Ranganathan argues the Royal Family isn't paid enough, Katherine Ryan suggests all men should have vasectomies at birth, and Harriet Kemsley, a single mum herself, claims single mums are lazy. Gamble hosts, mediating between teams captained by McNally and Richard Ayoade.
Gamble notes the odd chemistry: 'I don't think you'd see any of us in a room outside of the show,' though he admits he'd be with McNally and occasionally see Ayoade at the BFI. McNally adds, 'I still don't know how to read Richard, and I don't think he knows how to read me, but that's hilarious, and I think that's why it works.'
Rising Stars of Podcasting
Gamble rose to fame with the podcast Off Menu, co-hosted with James Acaster, which attracted Hollywood guests like Robert De Niro and Jeff Goldblum. He later became a judge on Great British Menu and now hosts Traitors Uncloaked, a spin-off that outperforms Love Island in viewership. McNally's podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me with Vogue Williams built her a massive following; she sold enough tickets for Hammersmith Apollo to fill Wembley Stadium, and her previous tour holds the record for most alcohol sold at the London Palladium.
McNally reflects on her TV career: 'I remember Graham Norton said to me once, "You don't do any telly." I wasn't doing TV, and I think in a way it's a good thing, because I went off and built my own little thing.' She adds, 'We used to be chasing the audience that TV had. TV is chasing the audience that comics already have.'
Inclusivity for Rising Comedians
Unacceptable aims to include newer comedians, a departure from TV's risk-averse trend. This series features Vittorio Angeloni, who went viral for humiliating former Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt on The Last Leg, and Fatiha El-Ghorri, a hijab-wearing Muslim comedian making waves. Gamble acknowledges the challenge: 'There are a lot of panel shows where they don't take risks and book newer people, which I also understand, but this show has definitely room and slots for newer comics.'
McNally recalls her own struggle: 'I was booked to be an understudy for 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown for a whole series. I would get up there, sit in a windowless room, eat Wagamama, and then drive back home. I just never made it on the show.' She jokes, 'So you're praying illness on the cast, you know? If someone could just get decapitated on the way into it, that's my dream!'
Competitive Nature of Panel Shows
Despite the light-hearted premise, panel shows can feel intense. McNally says, 'It's weird to call comedy panel shows serious because, of course, they're not, but for us they can feel very serious, very competitive, like a blood sport.' She admits her gullibility is a weakness: 'My manager moved my hotel once because it was near a Scientology center, and they knew I'd wander in. I was very much convinced 9/11 was an inside job up until not that long ago.'
Unacceptable launches July 5 on TLC.
