More music on 4 as 'Deal' gets festive

Channel 4 has announced of a host of new music shows across its channels and platforms.

A 'U2 week' will be aired to tie in with the release of the band’s greatest hits album, with an interview with presenter June Sarpong, music videos and footage from concerts from their career, shown on both channels and online.

The channel will also show eight short films from new directors inspired by Robbie Williams’ music, a fly on the wall Oasis documentary Lord Don’t Slow Me Down as well as an hour-long acoustic special called Noel Gallagher: Sitting in Silence.

Separately, Channel 4 has announced prime time festive slots for Endemol-produced gameshow Deal or No Deal, with the prize fund for each increased from £250,000 to £500,000.

The show pulled an audience of more than 5 million when previously broadcast in a prime time slot, so the channel will no doubt be hoping the specials beat BBC and ITV in the Christmas ratings.

But Channel 4's original chief executive, Jeremy Isaacs, criticised such programming decisions. In an interview to be published in Prospect magazine this week, he said the channel shows "far too much reality and lifestyle" and that its three-hour block prior to the Channel 4 News at 8pm, including Deal or No Deal, "is the epitome of commercial scheduling".