UK comedian Alan Davies is set to appear on ABC’s new game show Tonight At The Museum, which premieres this week with a unique mix of trivia, museum mayhem, and celebrity guests. The show, filmed at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, features host Alex Lee guiding contestants through a series of challenges involving the museum’s eclectic collection of artefacts.

Behind the Scenes of Museum Mayhem

Lee, who is a writer and comedian, says the show was inspired by her first visit to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). ‘My first day on the job was spent at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, so it was straight into it,’ she said. ‘We met with the museum curators and staff who took us on an incredible tour behind the scenes.’

The tour included ancient Chinese artefacts, a 5m-long stringybark canoe, rare convict artworks, and a huge albatross being prepared for taxidermy. ‘We just knew we had to make this show,’ Lee said. The show includes rounds such as Put A Label On It, Treasure Hunt, Exhibitionist, and a special Nerd Alert round, where visiting experts reveal bizarre facts about everything from insect genitalia to obscure historical events.

Alan Davies: The Perfect Fit

Alan Davies, known for his work on the UK quiz show QI, is the guest for the show’s first episode. ‘He is such a brilliant man, and has done over 300 episodes of QI, so his general knowledge is off the charts,’ Lee said. ‘But he still had his mind blown a few times learning about our weird and wonderful country.’

Davies’ appearance is expected to bring a unique blend of humor and curiosity to the show. ‘He was very generous and funny, and probably a bit naughtier than you might expect!’ Lee added. The show will feature a weekly selection of local comedians, including Zoe Coombs Marr, Luke McGregor, Adam Briggs, Nazeem Hussain, and Becky Lucas.

A Unique Concept with a Local Twist

The show is the brainchild of Adam Liaw, ex-MasterChef star and host of The Cook Up on SBS, and co-EP Josh Martin. ‘We wanted to make a show that made you laugh out loud while igniting that sense of wonder and curiosity, as well as the feeling of sneaking around a museum after dark,’ Lee explained.

The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is a perfect setting for the show, with its mix of art, history, natural sciences, and cultural artefacts. Lee, who is a fan of the museum, recalls her first visit to Hobart. ‘I ducked into TMAG to get out of the cold, and ended up spending hours there. The Antarctica exhibition was my favourite — so many adorable taxidermied penguins!’ she said.

While working on the show, Lee discovered many fascinating artefacts, though some didn’t make the cut. ‘One artefact that didn’t make it into the show was a bedroom door from the 1990s, absolutely covered in bumper stickers, donated by a local Tasmanian family,’ she said. ‘There are a lot of environmental campaign stickers, such as the famous NO DAMS sticker, some old anti-smoking slogans, and some random ones too! It’s a perfect snapshot of that moment in time.’

The show is set to premiere on Wednesday, March 4 at 8pm on ABC. The format combines humor, trivia, and the unique atmosphere of the museum, offering viewers a chance to learn about history, science, and culture in an entertaining way.