Sky has announced a lineup for unscripted entertainment on the way to Sky Max. BAFTA-nominated duo Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan will take on their best set of challenges yet and the A League of Their Own team are starting their engines for a one-off race across Europe.

Additionally, Joe Lycett will burst onto the Sky scene to explore Birminghams around the globe, and a host of stand-up specials are coming to the channel.

Rob & Romesh Vs Season 7

This summer, Sky’s much-loved duo – Beckett and Ranganathan – are back to throw themselves into a new set of unknown worlds that will put their friendship to the test. They’ll return to Vegas and team up with the UFC to explore the world of mixed martial arts and rev up their death growls as they tackle Heavy Metal at its UK heartland, Download Festival. They’ll also take on Wildlife as they go behind the lens and test out their photography skills as part of the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and they’ll dive into Hollywood to see how they fare in the world of Hollywood Stunts. The pair will also head to Alexandra Palace to try their hand at darts, for a one-off special early next year.

Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham

It’s no secret that Lycett adores Brum, but his hometown is having a tough time of it. In his self-appointed role as the second city’s ambassador and with the blessing of the actual Lord Mayor of Birmingham, everyone’s favourite comedy activist is on a mission to put Birmingham firmly back on the map – in fact, all over the map.

To do that, Lycett is heading to North America, the global destination for multiple Brums, home to no fewer than eighteen Birminghams, stretching from Canada’s Saskatchewan province, down the East Coast, through the Midwest and into the Deep South. Lycett will explore their history, their collective Brummie cultural commonalities and form official ‘Friendship Agreements’ with as many US Birminghams as he can. As the climax of the series, Lycett will invite some of his new Brummie chums back to his own Birmingham for what will doubtless become an annually bostin global event – the International Day of Birmingham.

Lycett commented: “I am delighted to be making this show for Sky which will finally secure me enough money to move to London.”

A League of their Own: The Rally

The gang are back for a new adventure show, competing in an epic rally from London to Turin. Jill Scott, Maisie Adam, Micah Richards and Jamie Redknapp (pictured) will be paired off into teams and pitted against one another for the ultimate prize – the ALOTO Rally Cup. The dash across Europe will be in six rally stages, deploying planes, trains and automobiles, as each team bids to reach their destination with the most points and hoist the all-important ALOTO Rally Cup.

Stand-up specials

A host of new stand-up specials will also be airing on Sky this year, with shows from some of the UK’s top comedians coming to TV for the first time, including:

• David Baddiel: Not the Trilogy
• Lucy Beaumont: Live from the Royal Court Theatre
• Tom Davis: Underdog
• John Kearns: The Varnishing Days
• Stewart Lee: Basic Lee (Live from the Lowry)
• Chris Ramsey: Live from London

These are the first ever televised specials for Beaumont, Davis and Kearns.

Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Arts and Entertainment, Sky, commented: “We’re proud to bring you the laughs on Sky Max with a Who’s Who of brilliant British comedy talent and the world’s best magician all in one place. We have firm audience favourites, Rob and Romesh Vs, A League of Their Own, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, as well as recent additions like The Overlap and Hold the Front Page, and we’re introducing the wonderful Joe Lycett to our joyful line up. In a stressful world, we need all the laughter we can get.”