Jeremy Paxman and David Mitchell will host Channel 4's Alternative Election Night

David Mitchell and Jeremy Paxman are to co-present Channel 4's Alternative Election Night on 7 May. Both the University Challenge host and the Would I Lie To You? panellist will front the show for its entire broadcast running from 9pm to 6am, seeing in the decision as to which party will act as the next UK government.

The duo will be joined on the show by newsreader Cathy Newman and political editor Gary Gibbon, while comedic guests on the programme include Pointless presenter Richard Osman and Facejacker's Kayvan Novak will be combining their talents to bring audiences an "all-night feast of comedy and comment."

When talking about his involvement in the alternative night, Paxman said he thought "elections matter. But that doesn't mean the coverage has to be dull". He added: "I hope there'll be room for both insight and laughter."

Mitchell joked: "Our aim is to keep people watching much later than they intended and we will be judged by the dip in the nation's productivity on Friday 8 May."

The show will also feature special election-themed episodes of Gogglebox and The Last Leg.

Mitchell took part in the Channel 4's election coverage in 2010 alongside Lauren Laverne, Charlie Brooker and Jimmy Carr.

In the lead up to polling day,the TV channel will broadcast its new sitcom Ballot Monkeys, written by Andy Hamilton and Guy Perkins, the creators of Outnumbered. The five-part series starring Ben Miller, Hugh Dennis and Miranda's Sarah Hadland follows the government parties as they embark on their various election campaigns.

More 4 will also dedicate its viewings to the general election by showing The Vote, a play depicting the last 90 minutes before an election poll closes. It will be aired live as it is performed from the London Donmar Warehouse theatre.