Roast Battle

Did You Know?

• Roast Battle became Comedy Central's highest-rated UK commission.
• In December 2018, Ofcom upheld a complaint after a trailer featured an anti-Semitic joke by Jimmy Carr towards Tom Rosenthal.
• The American series is based on a live show created by Brian Moses and Rell Battle at The Comedy Store's Belly Room.

Concept, format and production

The show is based on Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle, an American series created by Jeff Ross and Brian Moses that first aired on Comedy Central in 2016, itself derived from a live show at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Jimmy Carr participated as a contestant in the American series' first series. Roast Battle premiered on Comedy Central in the UK and Ireland in 2018. Carr hosts the programme, while Moses serves as announcer and referee.

A panel of judges, including Carr, determines each battle's winner. The first series featured judges Katherine Ryan and Russell Brand; the second and third series had Ryan and Jonathan Ross; the fourth series paired Ryan with a different guest judge each episode, such as Richard Ayoade, Big Narstie, Sara Pascoe, Noel Fielding and Joe Lycett. Recording takes place at the Electric Brixton nightclub in London, and the show is co-produced by James Corden’s Fulwell 73 and Carr’s Ideasatron.