Channel 4 has announced six new episodes of a 90s 'cultural phenomenon' TV show. The broadcaster revealed on Tuesday that TFI Friday Unplugged, hosted by Chris Evans, will continue its rebirth with a new series.
A 90s Icon Returns
TFI Friday launched in 1996 and quickly became an iconic show through its unscripted mix of celebrity chat and Britpop music. Reports claim viewing figures peaked at a staggering 6 million before Evans unexpectedly quit the show in 2000.
The show ended that year and didn't return until a 2015 one-off special that turned into a series, even featuring world-renowned band U2. Chris Evans revived the show on Virgin Radio in February this year, calling it TFI Friday Unplugged, and Channel 4 quickly snapped it up for a revival.
Strong Performance and Audience Appeal
The first series of the new format aired with guests including Sir Lenny Henry, YouTube star KSI, actress Claire Foy, and McFly's Tom Fletcher. On Tuesday, Channel 4 revealed it 'delivered a clear uplift' in viewing figures at its 11pm TV slot, performing strongly with under-34s. They said it 'proved competitive' with rival shows, so Evans has been given the green light for six more episodes to continue the 'cultural phenomenon'.
Channel 4's commissioning editor, Cimran Shah, said: "Unplugged delivered exactly what we'd hoped for. That's great guests, brilliant music, unpredictable moments and a strong response from audiences. We are thrilled to be bringing it back for another six episodes and can't wait to see where Chris takes it next."
Chris Evans simply said: "Yee haa, we've been recommissioned!"
