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The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ this week re-launches its Comedy website – designed to be a more immersive experience for users and contributors alike.

It features a beta version of Comedy Extra which offers up-and-coming writers and artists a platform to showcase their work to comedy fans, and gives users access to more exclusive content from a variety of popular ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ shows.

In this initial roll out, treats in store include: work from new sketch act Broken Biscuits, animator David Firth, and a new series of sketches from a Cashpoints point of view from Monkey Kingdom.

There will also be improvised comedy interviews between Armando Iannucci and Stewart Lee that were first seen on the Red Button, and a new online version of Have I Got News From You from Hat Trick.

Lucy Lumsden, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Controller of Comedy Commissioning, said: "The website provides the comedy community with an exciting new space to try out new things.

"We can't wait to see who and what will emerge over the coming year."

Martin Trickey, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Multiplatform Commissioning Executive, said: "This has been a collaborative process between in-house and indies where we've set about turning the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s comedy website from something that was about the funny, into something funny."

Will Saunders, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Comedy Executive Producer, Multiplatform, added: "What we want to create is a new low-risk playground for the next generation of comedy talent, and a place where you might find some established names doing something a bit different."

The full launch is due later this year and will offer users easy access to the best the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ has to offer all in one place.

The website, bbc.co.uk/comedy/extra, will be the first port of call for comedy lovers who will also be able to catch up on the latest comedies via ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ iPlayer, as well as discover more content via the Red Button, on YouTube and for those on the go from the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳’s mobile site.

There will be regular blogging and Twitter feeds to keep users up to date with the latest news of what's in production and what's going live.

CP3