Take a trip to Dave for Tom Allen’s new panel show, where comedians must create their own slice of paradise (or not, as the case may be)

By Laura Rutkowski, Senior Staff Writer

No, this is not The Island With Bear Grylls. Nor is this a new series of Love Island. It’s also not the Michael Bay film or a sequel to Shutter Island. This is The Island with comedian Tom Allen.

Imagine Desert Island Discs, but instead of deciding what you’d take to a desert island, this new Dave series asks what your island in general would be like, as well as what sort of entertainment is on it. Let’s get stranded!

What is The Island about?

“What do you mean the shark bite cocktail is a bad choice for my national drink?”

Tom, the Captain of the SS Unsinkable, has found himself in a spot of trouble – the cruise ship has run aground and he needs to get his passengers to safety. Luckily, there are four undiscovered islands, each led by a comedian, that they can populate.

The show’s guests are tasked with making their own island the best and most desirable to attract the passengers to live there. Whoever gets the most uptake from the “passengers,” otherwise known as the audience, wins the series. The studio audience sit on different levels of an intricate cruise ship that has been built for the show.

In the first episode, the leaders must name their islands, decide on their Chief of Police, choose their national drink and make a bust of themselves out of clay.

Tom will of course be testing them, with questions like, “Who has the best house band?” and “What would you have flowing from a third tap in every home?” There’s a hot water tap, a cold water tap and a…? Competitions include showcasing their athletic ability so their island is chosen to host the Olympics.

Who stars in The Island?

From left: Ninia Benjamin, Sara Pascoe, Johnny Vegas, Ahir Shah

Comedians Sara Pascoe, Johnny Vegas, Ninia Benjamin and Ahir Shah attempt to create the perfect island. Tom described their different approaches: “Johnny Vegas is always going to have a certain kind of answer, Ahir Shah often has intellectual and very funny choices, Ninia Benjamin is wonderful and random, and Sara brings an intellectual but playful and silly approach. The beauty of the game is that it engages people’s improv style, their imagination, and their intellect.”

Tom’s trusty deckhands Kemah Bob and Jason Forbes are the last remaining crew members on the ship so they deliver “live” reports from the islands through surreal comedy sketches. They also announce the challenges and each challenge’s winner.

Who created the concept?

From left: Ed Gamble, James Acaster, John Robins, Lloyd Langford

The Island has also been created by comedians – it comes from the minds of James Acaster, Ed Gamble, Lloyd Langford and John Robins. They were all stuck in New York City during a snowstorm, Tom revealed, and they found a way to entertain themselves while waiting for their plane home.

“They started asking themselves questions about what they would do if they ran their own island, questions like: “What would you have as your mode of transport?,” “Who would you have as your head of state?,” and “What would be your favourite toast?” It’s a very playable game.”

Where else can I watch Tom Allen?

We can’t get enough of Tom Allen on our telly right now

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