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As 2010 threatens to gaudily end the millennium's first decade with the gifts of a General Election, an England World Cup victory and maybe even a Katie and Peter reunion album, Dara O'Briain and his crack Mock The Week squad are back for another series of the hugely popular show.

Returning for six weeks in January, ±«Óãtv Two's top-rated comedy maintains the unique mix of quiz, performance and topical discussion that last series saw it regularly pulling in viewing figures of more than three million as well as becoming a huge hit on the ±«Óãtv's YouTube channel and ±«Óãtv iPlayer.

Fresh from their sell-out nationwide tours, O'Briain and the other popular regulars Russell Howard and Andy Parsons will be joined as ever by Outnumbered star Hugh Dennis and the very best talent from the stand-up circuit to supply must-see satire.

Joining the team to date are Milton Jones, Mark Watson, Stewart Francis, Jack Whitehall, Ed Byrne, Sarah Millican and Holly Walsh and, for the first time, Patrick Kielty, John Bishop, Chris Addison, Andrew Maxwell, Kevin Bridges and Andi Osho.

Series producer Dan Patterson says: "We're delighted to be back for our eighth series – 2010 promises to bring a host of new targets for our team and our New Year's resolution is to welcome them with all our usual warmth, respect and best wishes."

Now a household name, Mock The Week has, over the years, proved an extremely effective career springboard for the likes of Frankie Boyle, Michael McIntyre, David Mitchell, John Oliver, Stewart Francis, Mark Watson, Lucy Porter and Rhod Gilbert as well as a platform for established names such as Ed Byrne, Gina Yashere, Greg Proops and Fred MacAulay to flex their topical muscles.

Mock The Week was created by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson, the creative force behind the iconic improvisation-based show Whose Line Is It Anyway? which ran for 10 years on British TV before successfully transferring to the United States.

Suzanne Gilfillan is the executive editor for the ±«Óãtv. It is produced for the ±«Óãtv by independent production company Angst Productions.

AN