The Russell Howard Hour

Production

A second series was announced on 28 November 2017 and began on 8 November 2018. Unlike the first series, the second series replaced the stand-up guest segment with a segment called "Live Forever," in which Howard and another comedian test methods to live longer. On 24 January 2019, the show was recommissioned for a third and fourth series. In series 3, "Live Forever" was replaced by "Play Date," a segment showing Howard spending time with a celebrity.

Shortly after series 3 ended in spring 2020, the fourth series was delayed until early autumn due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Howard created a spin-off, Russell Howard's Home Time, with a similar format but a shorter 30-minute runtime; it was filmed at his home in Bath, Somerset under social distancing measures and ran for nine episodes starting 9 April 2020. The fourth series began on 10 September 2020; the first episode had no live audience, but from episode two onward a socially distanced live audience returned.

On 17 December 2020, a fifth and sixth series were commissioned. The first episode of the sixth series, originally scheduled for 8 September 2022, was pulled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and broadcast two days later on Sky Max. With the closure of Sky One, the series moved to Sky Max. Apart from the Home Time spin-off, all episodes were recorded at Television Centre in London.

Viewing figures

Viewing figures are sourced from BARB's Top 10 Programmes until September 2018 and the Four-screen Dashboard from September 2018 onward. In series 2, the stand-up comic segment was replaced with "Live Forever," where Howard and another comedian try a health-improving activity; episode 7 was a Christmas Special. In series 3, "Live Forever" was replaced with "Play Date," featuring Howard and another comedian trying an activity new to them. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, series 4 was delayed; the spin-off series, filmed from Howard's home in Somerset, included chats with celebrity guests, comedians, and musical performances via Zoom. In the finale on 7 May 2020, Howard announced that the fourth series would return in September 2020, with no audience and a skeleton crew due to social distancing.