ITV has announced the star-studded line-up for major new entertainment series, The Assembly, which will see celebrities being questioned by a remarkable group of inquisitive interviewers who are autistic, neurodivergent and/or learning disabled.
Each episode of The Assembly sees a different celebrity forced to cast aside everything they were ever taught by their media trainers as they each face their most honest, funny, chaotic - and heartwarming - interview to date.
Carefully considered PR fluff won't cut it on this show, and the celebrities can expect plenty of mischief and surprises once they get in the hot seat...
Gary Lineker is the first star to be confirmed for the series.
After a long and illustrious career as both a Golden Boot-winning footballer and top sports broadcaster, and with his tenure as the longest-serving presenter of Match of the Day drawing to a close this summer, there's no end to the stories that Lineker might share.
Joining him on the line-up is acting legend, David Tennant. In his defining role as the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who, Tennant faced Cybermen, Daleks and The Master - but a grilling from The Assembly could be his most nerve-wracking encounter yet.
BRIT-nominated pop star Jade Thirlwall is also set to take part. After 11 chart-topping years as a member of era-defining girl group Little Mix, Jade has recently embarked on a successful solo career, and her searingly honest lyrics about challenging experiences in the music industry suggest a candid interview with The Assembly is on the cards.
Completing the line-up is actor and presenter, Danny Dyer.
The star of Rivals and Eastenders is a national treasure known for his frank, no-nonsense outlook - potentially making him the perfect candidate for an interview where no area is out of bounds and no question is off the table.
Katie Rawcliffe, Director of Entertainment & Daytime ITV said:
"We're delighted that such an esteemed group of famous faces have agreed to be part of this fresh and distinct format coming to ITV1 and ITVX soon. Gary, David, Jade and Danny's interviews with The Assembly all promise to be captivating, unmissable television with real warmth and we cannot wait to share it with our viewers."
The Assembly first aired in the UK to critical acclaim in 2024 as a BBC pilot featuring actor and director, Michael Sheen, who later said, "The Assembly's had more response than anything I've ever done" (The Guardian, August 2024).
The 4 x 30 minute series is produced by Rockerdale Studios who, together with ITV, have worked with national and local autistic and neurodivergent organisations to ensure every element of The Assembly works for and with autistic and neurodivergent voices.
The show's format is an adaptation of French series Les Rencontres du Papotin, which has featured appearances from notable French figures including Killing Eve star Camille Cottin and even President Emmanuel Macron, who was memorably asked by the panel if it's really role model behaviour to marry one's teacher.
The Assembly has been commissioned as part of ITV's Diversity Commissioning Spend. Launched in 2022, the fund reserved £80m of the content commissioning budget over three years to help drive change towards racial equity and disability equity, in whose stories get told and who gets opportunities in TV production. The fund is crucial to ensure that ITV commissions content about and by People of Colour and Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent people.
The Assembly will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in 2025.