OREANDA-NEWS. ITV has commissioned STV Productions, with co-production partners GroupM Entertainment, to make a second series of popular ITV2 comedy panel show, Safeword.

Rick Edwards (Free Speech, The Paralympic Games Breakfast Show, Tool Academy) returns as host for the ITV2 series, joined by team captains Katherine Ryan (Bring the Noise, Hair, Lip Sync Battle UK) and David Morgan (I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! Now!, Xtra Factor, Virtually Famous). The six 45 minute episodes will start filming in March.

Outrageous and laugh-out-loud entertaining, Safeword sees two teams, made up of a celebrity guest and two comedians, go head to head in a competitive 'roast' format.  The celebrities must endure having their public profiles scrutinised and their social media accounts hijacked in real time, as the rival panel pokes around their personal and professional lives, posting shocking updates to legions of fans on their behalf. The only thing that can help the celebrities is using their chosen Safeword to make it all stop.

The show hit the headlines last summer after featuring contestants including Katie Price, I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here winner Vicky Pattison and 80's pop sensation Sinitta.

Gary Chippington, Head of Entertainment at STV Productions, said: "It's great to be working with ITV on another series of Safeword and we look forward to bringing viewers more unsafe comedy from Rick, Katherine and David as our teams are let loose on each other again."

Tony Moulsdale, Director of Programming, GroupM Entertainment said: "We are really pleased to see this ruthlessly funny and unforgiving comedy panel show coming back to ITV2 for a second series."

Claire Zolkwer, Commissioning Editor, Comedy and Entertainment for ITV said: "The innate sense of mischief that Rick, Katherine and David bring to the show makes Safeword a must see, jaw dropping series that we so love on ITV2."

The ITV2 recommissioning of Safeword is just one outcome of the strategic development partnership between STV Productions and GroupM Entertainment announced in August, coupling the two companies to co-invest, co-develop and co-produce ideas across a broad range of genres.

The focus of the successful partnership has been to create new entertainment, factual and drama projects targeted at major broadcasters in the UK and internationally.

The partners recently extended their financial support following the success of the partnership so far.

Red Arrow International distributes the Safeword format worldwide (excluding UK and US).

Safeword was ordered by Angela Jain, ITV's Director of Digital Platforms and commissioned by Claire Zolkwer, ITV Commissioning Editor, Comedy Entertainment.

Executive Producer for STV Productions is Gary Chippington, Head of Entertainment and for GroupM Entertainment is Abigail Adams.