‘Am I Being Unreasonable?’ Producer’s Development Boss Joins Sky
The Head of Development at Am I Being Unreasonable? producer Boffola Pictures is joining Sky Studios next month. Emily Allen will become Commissioning Executive for Comedy within Alex Moody’s Sky Studios comedy commissioning team and will have responsibility for ordering Sky original comedies from indies. She will join from Boffola Pictures, the indie run by former BBC comedy heads Shane Allen and Kate Daughton that produces BAFTA-winning Daisy May Cooper show Am I Being Unreasonable?. Prior to Boffola, she worked in the BBC comedy team. Sky original comedies launching in 2024 include Mr Bigstuff, which stars Danny Dyer, and comedy-drama Small Town, Big Story, written and directed by Chris O’Dowd, and starring Christina Hendricks and Paddy Considine. Brassic will also return for a sixth season. The news comes a few days after Sky Studios slimmed down its structure by unifying...
The Head of Development at Am I Being Unreasonable? producer Boffola Pictures is joining Sky Studios next month. Emily Allen will become Commissioning Executive for Comedy within Alex Moody’s Sky Studios comedy commissioning team and will have responsibility for ordering Sky original comedies from indies. She will join from Boffola Pictures, the indie run by former BBC comedy heads Shane Allen and Kate Daughton that produces BAFTA-winning Daisy May Cooper show Am I Being Unreasonable?. Prior to Boffola, she worked in the BBC comedy team. Sky original comedies launching in 2024 include Mr Bigstuff, which stars Danny Dyer, and comedy-drama Small Town, Big Story, written and directed by Chris O’Dowd, and starring Christina Hendricks and Paddy Considine. Brassic will also return for a sixth season. The news comes a few days after Sky Studios slimmed down its structure by unifying...
- 2/12/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Hulu has acquired Daisy May Cooper’s hit BBC comedy-thriller Am I Being Unreasonable?
The streamer has taken U.S. rights to all six episodes of the genre-bending comedy, which was written by the This Country creator and Selin Hizli (Mum), and exec produced by Jack Thorne. Show will debut as a Hulu original on April 11. BBC Studios struck the deal, having shopped the show at Mipcom Cannes.
Am I Being Unreasonable?, which has been recommissioned for a second season, aired to critical acclaim on the BBC last September and is considered a frontrunner for the upcoming UK TV awards season.
The six-parter from Boffola Pictures and Happy Valley producer Lookout Point follows Nic (Cooper), a mother grieving a loss that she can’t share with anyone whilst stuck in a depressing marriage. Only her son, Ollie, keeps her going. But when Jen (Hizli) arrives in town,...
The streamer has taken U.S. rights to all six episodes of the genre-bending comedy, which was written by the This Country creator and Selin Hizli (Mum), and exec produced by Jack Thorne. Show will debut as a Hulu original on April 11. BBC Studios struck the deal, having shopped the show at Mipcom Cannes.
Am I Being Unreasonable?, which has been recommissioned for a second season, aired to critical acclaim on the BBC last September and is considered a frontrunner for the upcoming UK TV awards season.
The six-parter from Boffola Pictures and Happy Valley producer Lookout Point follows Nic (Cooper), a mother grieving a loss that she can’t share with anyone whilst stuck in a depressing marriage. Only her son, Ollie, keeps her going. But when Jen (Hizli) arrives in town,...
- 2/21/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Shane Allen’s Boffola Pictures Names Comedy Head
Shane Allen’s Boffola Pictures has hired Ladhood producer Joe Nunnery as its Head of Comedy. Established by former Channel 4 and BBC Comedy boss Allen and Kate Daughton in 2021, the indie is behind Daisy May Cooper BBC comedy thriller series Am I Being Unreasonable? and is shooting Undoing Martin Parker for BBC One. It is written by Sian Gibson and Paul Coleman, and stars Conleth Hill, Gibson and Rosie Cavaliero. Allen said Nunnery, known for developing BBC Three comedy Ladhood into a TV series after its radio run and Alexi Sayle’s Imaginary Sandwich Bar, was “a class act; beloved by talent, agents and broadcasters alike.”
‘Sex Education’, ‘House of the Dragon’ Among Casting Awards Nominations
The UK and Ireland’s Casting Directors’ Guild has unveiled the nominees for the 2023 CDG Casting Awards. Sex Education, House of the Dragon, Bad Sisters,...
Shane Allen’s Boffola Pictures has hired Ladhood producer Joe Nunnery as its Head of Comedy. Established by former Channel 4 and BBC Comedy boss Allen and Kate Daughton in 2021, the indie is behind Daisy May Cooper BBC comedy thriller series Am I Being Unreasonable? and is shooting Undoing Martin Parker for BBC One. It is written by Sian Gibson and Paul Coleman, and stars Conleth Hill, Gibson and Rosie Cavaliero. Allen said Nunnery, known for developing BBC Three comedy Ladhood into a TV series after its radio run and Alexi Sayle’s Imaginary Sandwich Bar, was “a class act; beloved by talent, agents and broadcasters alike.”
‘Sex Education’, ‘House of the Dragon’ Among Casting Awards Nominations
The UK and Ireland’s Casting Directors’ Guild has unveiled the nominees for the 2023 CDG Casting Awards. Sex Education, House of the Dragon, Bad Sisters,...
- 1/23/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Gentleman Jack producer Lookout Point’s investment in Shane Allen and Kate Daughton’s Boffola Pictures technically valued the new comedy indie at £4M ($5.4M), Deadline can reveal, while Lookout posted a £3.2M ($4.3M) loss for the Covid-impacted 2020/21 financial year.
Lookout’s full year accounts, which were released last month on Companies House, revealed the company invested £1M ($1.4M) to acquire 25% of Boffola Pictures’ share capital on May 4 2021, thereby technically valuing the company at £4M. The acquisition was made two months after the financial year covered in the accounts.
Little was known about the deal prior to the accounts being released, with Lookout only saying it had taken a minority stake when Boffola was officially launched over the summer.
The £4M valuation is a hefty price tag to place on a new scripted indie in a competitive field and is testament to Lookout’s desire to push into the...
Lookout’s full year accounts, which were released last month on Companies House, revealed the company invested £1M ($1.4M) to acquire 25% of Boffola Pictures’ share capital on May 4 2021, thereby technically valuing the company at £4M. The acquisition was made two months after the financial year covered in the accounts.
Little was known about the deal prior to the accounts being released, with Lookout only saying it had taken a minority stake when Boffola was officially launched over the summer.
The £4M valuation is a hefty price tag to place on a new scripted indie in a competitive field and is testament to Lookout’s desire to push into the...
- 1/5/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC Comedy Director Jon Petrie has unveiled his new-look comedy commissioning team following a spate of recent departures, with AppleTV+’s Trying producer Emma Lawson joining alongside E4 digital commissioner Navi Lamba and Roughcut TV’s Seb Barwell.
Petrie’s appointment earlier this year came off the back of the departure of former Comedy Director Shane Allen, Head of Comedy Kate Daughton and Commissioning Editors Alex Moody and Sarah Asante, all within a few weeks of each other.
Replacements in the Commissioning Editor team are revealed today as Lawson, whose previous credits include Cuckoo and Peep Show, Mandy’s Ben Caudell, who has been acting but joins on a permanent basis, and Roughcut TV’s Stath Lets Flats producer Seb Barwell, who conversely joins on an acting basis for the next six months.
Lawson most recently worked on Rafe Spall’s AppleTV+ comedy Trying, which led to an in-house commissioning...
Petrie’s appointment earlier this year came off the back of the departure of former Comedy Director Shane Allen, Head of Comedy Kate Daughton and Commissioning Editors Alex Moody and Sarah Asante, all within a few weeks of each other.
Replacements in the Commissioning Editor team are revealed today as Lawson, whose previous credits include Cuckoo and Peep Show, Mandy’s Ben Caudell, who has been acting but joins on a permanent basis, and Roughcut TV’s Stath Lets Flats producer Seb Barwell, who conversely joins on an acting basis for the next six months.
Lawson most recently worked on Rafe Spall’s AppleTV+ comedy Trying, which led to an in-house commissioning...
- 11/3/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Former BBC comedy bosses Shane Allen and Kate Daughton’s Boffola Pictures has landed its debut commission, a BBC comedy-thriller from This Country creator Daisy May Cooper and Deadwater Fell’s Selin Hizli, exec produced by Jack Thorne.
Cooper and Hizli will play the leads and are starring in the untitled six-part show, portraying two friends who love fun, laughter and booze until everything unravels.
His Dark Materials writer Thorne is on board to exec the project, which was ordered several weeks ago by then-acting Director of BBC Comedy Kate Phillips, who took the post temporarily before Jon Petrie joined to oversee the genre permanently. BBC Studios, which owns Lookout Point, is distributing internationally and Allen, Cooper, Hizli and Daughton are all exec producing alongside director Jonny Campbell.
Thorne said the show “balances joy and truth, funny and real,” adding that it has “been a brilliant education for me as a writer.
Cooper and Hizli will play the leads and are starring in the untitled six-part show, portraying two friends who love fun, laughter and booze until everything unravels.
His Dark Materials writer Thorne is on board to exec the project, which was ordered several weeks ago by then-acting Director of BBC Comedy Kate Phillips, who took the post temporarily before Jon Petrie joined to oversee the genre permanently. BBC Studios, which owns Lookout Point, is distributing internationally and Allen, Cooper, Hizli and Daughton are all exec producing alongside director Jonny Campbell.
Thorne said the show “balances joy and truth, funny and real,” adding that it has “been a brilliant education for me as a writer.
- 10/28/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Shane Allen, BBC’s director of comedy, is leaving the broadcaster to team with recently departed head of comedy commissioning Kate Daughton to launch a new outfit.
Boffola Pictures Limited will specialize in scripted comedy and comedy drama and is backed by “Les Miserables” producer Lookout Point.
The BBC will begin recruitment immediately for a new director of comedy. Allen is due to leave in August. Kate Phillips, director of BBC entertainment, will oversee new scripted comedy commissioning decisions while Allen oversees ongoing productions and works on the BBC Comedy Association’s inaugural plans for a city of comedy, the appointment of a Young People’s Comedy Laureate and the TV re-boot of The New Comedy Awards.
At BBC Comedy, Allen commissioned a range of hits including “Fleabag,” “Man Like Mobeen,” “Detectorists,” “Peter Kay’s Car Share,” “This Country,” “The Young Offenders,” “Upstart Crow,” “Inside Number 9” and “Famalam.” During his tenure,...
Boffola Pictures Limited will specialize in scripted comedy and comedy drama and is backed by “Les Miserables” producer Lookout Point.
The BBC will begin recruitment immediately for a new director of comedy. Allen is due to leave in August. Kate Phillips, director of BBC entertainment, will oversee new scripted comedy commissioning decisions while Allen oversees ongoing productions and works on the BBC Comedy Association’s inaugural plans for a city of comedy, the appointment of a Young People’s Comedy Laureate and the TV re-boot of The New Comedy Awards.
At BBC Comedy, Allen commissioned a range of hits including “Fleabag,” “Man Like Mobeen,” “Detectorists,” “Peter Kay’s Car Share,” “This Country,” “The Young Offenders,” “Upstart Crow,” “Inside Number 9” and “Famalam.” During his tenure,...
- 5/5/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Shane Allen, the BBC’s Director of Comedy whose credits include Fleabag, This Country, and The Young Offenders, is leaving the broadcaster to launch his own production company.
Allen is joining forces with Kate Daughton, the recently departed BBC Head of comedy, to form scripted comedy and comedy drama shingle Boffola Pictures Limited, with backing from War And Peace outfit Lookout Point, which is part of the BBC Studios group.
Allen’s tenure at the BBC has seen the broadcaster have regular success in the comedy categories of the National Television Award and the TV BAFTAs. The exec has focused on bringing through new talent, including through Comedy Slices & Threesomes on BBC Three. In 2021, he established the BBC Comedy Association to engage and enable a new wave of talent on and off screen including the return to television of the New Comedy Awards.
The BBC will begin recruitment immediately for a new Director of Comedy.
Allen is joining forces with Kate Daughton, the recently departed BBC Head of comedy, to form scripted comedy and comedy drama shingle Boffola Pictures Limited, with backing from War And Peace outfit Lookout Point, which is part of the BBC Studios group.
Allen’s tenure at the BBC has seen the broadcaster have regular success in the comedy categories of the National Television Award and the TV BAFTAs. The exec has focused on bringing through new talent, including through Comedy Slices & Threesomes on BBC Three. In 2021, he established the BBC Comedy Association to engage and enable a new wave of talent on and off screen including the return to television of the New Comedy Awards.
The BBC will begin recruitment immediately for a new Director of Comedy.
- 5/5/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Hello International Insider readers, Jake Kanter here. As usual, I invite you to take a walk with me through the biggest global film and TV stories of the week. And just to say, we’ll be taking a break next Friday for Easter weekend in the UK. We hope you have a prosperous couple of weeks in our absence. Want to get in touch in the meantime? I’m on jkanter@deadline.com. Sign up here to get this delivered to your inbox every Friday.
Scoop: BBC Comedy Changes
A scoop to start you off: We have got wind of some changes in the BBC comedy team. Head of comedy Kate Daughton is leaving after five years, while commissioning editor Sarah Asante is off to UKTV, which is owned by BBC Studios. The departures come after comedy controller Shane Allen brought in I May Destroy You producer Tanya Qureshi as a commissioner,...
Scoop: BBC Comedy Changes
A scoop to start you off: We have got wind of some changes in the BBC comedy team. Head of comedy Kate Daughton is leaving after five years, while commissioning editor Sarah Asante is off to UKTV, which is owned by BBC Studios. The departures come after comedy controller Shane Allen brought in I May Destroy You producer Tanya Qureshi as a commissioner,...
- 3/26/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The BBC’s head of comedy Kate Daughton and comedy commissioner Sarah Asante are both leaving the British broadcaster after more than five years, Deadline hears.
Daughton is stepping down after first joining the BBC in April 2016. She declined to comment on her next move, but there is speculation that she could return to program making. Daughton previously produced Matt Berry’s BAFTA-winning Toast, a show that she helped revive for the BBC earlier this year, with the cult character heading to Hollywood.
During her time at the BBC, Daughton’s commissioning credits included the second season of Emmy-winning Fleabag and two seasons of Stephen Merchant’s upcoming community service series The Offenders, which will star Christopher Walken and is co-produced by Amazon. Other hits on her watch included Ghosts and Steve Coogan’s This Time With Alan Partridge.
Meanwhile, Asante is joining UKTV as a commissioning editor. She...
Daughton is stepping down after first joining the BBC in April 2016. She declined to comment on her next move, but there is speculation that she could return to program making. Daughton previously produced Matt Berry’s BAFTA-winning Toast, a show that she helped revive for the BBC earlier this year, with the cult character heading to Hollywood.
During her time at the BBC, Daughton’s commissioning credits included the second season of Emmy-winning Fleabag and two seasons of Stephen Merchant’s upcoming community service series The Offenders, which will star Christopher Walken and is co-produced by Amazon. Other hits on her watch included Ghosts and Steve Coogan’s This Time With Alan Partridge.
Meanwhile, Asante is joining UKTV as a commissioning editor. She...
- 3/26/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Actor and writer Matt Berry is going to Hollywood, and moving to the BBC, with “Toast of Tinseltown,” the fourth season of the sitcom that won him a BAFTA for best male comedy performance.
“Toast of London,” written by Arthur Mathews and Berry, played for three seasons from 2013 through 2015 on U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 and IFC in the U.S. The new, six-part season will air on BBC One and iPlayer. It will see Berry reprising the role of Steven Toast, an eccentric and arrogant actor determined to win the recognition he mistakenly believes he deserves, as he moves to Hollywood and attempts to become a movie star.
The new season will feature a mix of new and returning cast members and is set to be filmed later this year. It is produced by All3Media’s Objective Fiction, in association with Wiip.
Berry said, “Toast himself would very much...
“Toast of London,” written by Arthur Mathews and Berry, played for three seasons from 2013 through 2015 on U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 and IFC in the U.S. The new, six-part season will air on BBC One and iPlayer. It will see Berry reprising the role of Steven Toast, an eccentric and arrogant actor determined to win the recognition he mistakenly believes he deserves, as he moves to Hollywood and attempts to become a movie star.
The new season will feature a mix of new and returning cast members and is set to be filmed later this year. It is produced by All3Media’s Objective Fiction, in association with Wiip.
Berry said, “Toast himself would very much...
- 2/10/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
In his first lead role on British television, Oscar winner Christopher Walken has been tapped to star in The Offenders (working title), a six-part series for BBC and Amazon Prime Video, from The Office co-creator Stephen Merchant and Mayans M.C. co-creator Elgin James. He is one of seven leads in the project, starring alongside Merchant, Rhianne Barreto, Gamba Cole, Darren Boyd, Clare Perkins (EastEnders) and Eleanor Tomlinson.
The series had just started filming in March when production was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Filming recently resumed in Bristol, UK, with Walken making his debut.
Described as crime thriller-meets-state-of-the-nation commentary, The Offenders hails from Mum producer Big Talk, part of ITV Studios, and Merchant’s Four Eyes. It is the latest co-production between Amazon Studios and the BBC, which have...
The series had just started filming in March when production was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Filming recently resumed in Bristol, UK, with Walken making his debut.
Described as crime thriller-meets-state-of-the-nation commentary, The Offenders hails from Mum producer Big Talk, part of ITV Studios, and Merchant’s Four Eyes. It is the latest co-production between Amazon Studios and the BBC, which have...
- 12/14/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Olivia Colman’s South Of The River Pictures and its commercial partner Sister are launching a comedy writer competition, with at least one winner getting the chance to develop a TV script with the companies.
The Screenshot initiative will be spearheaded by Debo Adebayo and will focus on comedy writer-performers from a theatre background. The aim is to help them take their work from the stage to the screen in much the same way as competition judge Phoebe Waller-Bridge did with Fleabag.
Joining Waller-Bridge on the panel will be Colman, actress Lolly Adefope, comedian Rosie Jones, BBC comedy commissioner Kate Daughton, Channel 4 head of comedy Fiona McDermott and Sky commissioner Tilusha Ghelan. Longlisted candidates will pitch their projects to the panel.
Winners will go into paid development, while shortlisted candidates will also receive a contribution towards the development or budget of their next live theatrical show. The competition is...
The Screenshot initiative will be spearheaded by Debo Adebayo and will focus on comedy writer-performers from a theatre background. The aim is to help them take their work from the stage to the screen in much the same way as competition judge Phoebe Waller-Bridge did with Fleabag.
Joining Waller-Bridge on the panel will be Colman, actress Lolly Adefope, comedian Rosie Jones, BBC comedy commissioner Kate Daughton, Channel 4 head of comedy Fiona McDermott and Sky commissioner Tilusha Ghelan. Longlisted candidates will pitch their projects to the panel.
Winners will go into paid development, while shortlisted candidates will also receive a contribution towards the development or budget of their next live theatrical show. The competition is...
- 9/30/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
“Fleabag” creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge is among the judges of ‘Screenshot,’ a competition seeking the next generation of comedy writer-performers for TV.
The competition is set up by “The Queen” actor Olivia Colman and “Landscaper” screenwriter Ed Sinclair’s South of the River Pictures and “Chernobyl” producer Sister Pictures.
Joining Waller-Bridge as judges are are fellow comedy writer-performers Colman, Lolly Adefope (“Ghosts”) and Rosie Jones (“Sex Education”), BBC head of comedy Kate Daughton (“Man Like Mobeen”), Channel 4 head of comedy Fiona McDermott (“Steth Lets Flats”), Sky commissioning editor Tilusha Ghelani (“Breeders”) and representatives from South of the River and Sister.
Theater producer and inclusion advocate Debo Adebayo will serve as competition producer.
The competition, a direct response to the impact Covid-19 has had on the performing arts, is open to applications from U.K.-based comedy writer-performers who already have a theater project developed or semi-developed, and have...
The competition is set up by “The Queen” actor Olivia Colman and “Landscaper” screenwriter Ed Sinclair’s South of the River Pictures and “Chernobyl” producer Sister Pictures.
Joining Waller-Bridge as judges are are fellow comedy writer-performers Colman, Lolly Adefope (“Ghosts”) and Rosie Jones (“Sex Education”), BBC head of comedy Kate Daughton (“Man Like Mobeen”), Channel 4 head of comedy Fiona McDermott (“Steth Lets Flats”), Sky commissioning editor Tilusha Ghelani (“Breeders”) and representatives from South of the River and Sister.
Theater producer and inclusion advocate Debo Adebayo will serve as competition producer.
The competition, a direct response to the impact Covid-19 has had on the performing arts, is open to applications from U.K.-based comedy writer-performers who already have a theater project developed or semi-developed, and have...
- 9/30/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
BBC Two has ordered a full series of Expectation comedy Alma’s Not Normal as part of a raft of comedy commissions, which also include a new episode of Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe.
Alma’s Not Normal was created and written by Sophie Willan, who plays Alma, a wild-child woman trying to get her life back on track following a recent breakup.
It was piloted earlier this month and earned rave reviews, with many critics calling on BBC Two to commission a full six-part series. Willan said she has been using the coronavirus lockdown as an opportunity to develop ideas for the show.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the fabulous response...
Alma’s Not Normal was created and written by Sophie Willan, who plays Alma, a wild-child woman trying to get her life back on track following a recent breakup.
It was piloted earlier this month and earned rave reviews, with many critics calling on BBC Two to commission a full six-part series. Willan said she has been using the coronavirus lockdown as an opportunity to develop ideas for the show.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the fabulous response...
- 4/21/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
“Black Mirror” creator Charlie Brooker is making a half-hour isolation special of his “Wipe” review series for the BBC, with the working title of “Charlie Brooker’s Antiviral Wipe.”
Before “Black Mirror,” Brooker rose to fame with the BBC “Wipe” review series, which began in 2006 with “Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe,” and went on to include “Newswipe with Charlie Brooker,” “Charlie Brooker’s Gameswipe” and “Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe.” The last episode of his annual “Wipe” review ran in 2016.
Last year, Brooker said he was too busy working on Netflix series “Black Mirror” to focus on “Wipe,” but the lockdown has clearly freed up some of his time.
The BBC said Brooker will be taking “a typically sharp look at life in lockdown, in a show made during lockdown.” The program will air on channel BBC Two.
As well as coverage of the crisis itself, Brooker will also be looking...
Before “Black Mirror,” Brooker rose to fame with the BBC “Wipe” review series, which began in 2006 with “Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe,” and went on to include “Newswipe with Charlie Brooker,” “Charlie Brooker’s Gameswipe” and “Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe.” The last episode of his annual “Wipe” review ran in 2016.
Last year, Brooker said he was too busy working on Netflix series “Black Mirror” to focus on “Wipe,” but the lockdown has clearly freed up some of his time.
The BBC said Brooker will be taking “a typically sharp look at life in lockdown, in a show made during lockdown.” The program will air on channel BBC Two.
As well as coverage of the crisis itself, Brooker will also be looking...
- 4/21/2020
- by Tim Dams
- Variety Film + TV
Lionsgate-backed comedy The Goes Wrong Show has been renewed by the BBC for a second season.
The series, produced by Mum producer Big Talk Productions and Mischief Screen, is based on the latter’s eponymous play from the team behind Peter Pan Goes Wrong and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong.
The first season followed the Cornley Drama Society undertaking another overly ambitious endeavour, held back by prolific over-actor Robert Grove, the screen-hogging Sandra Wilkinson and the artistically mistrusted Dennis Tyde. The half-hour episodes are described as “theatrical catastrophe”.
The Goes Wrong Show is written by and stars the original founding Mischief Theatre members including Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields alongside Nancy Zamit, Charlie Russell, Bryony Corrigan, Greg Tannahill, Dave Hearn and Chris Leask. It is filmed in front of a live studio audience.
Lionsgate sells internationally in a deal similar to its arrangement for Sharon Horgan-penned Motherland.
The series, produced by Mum producer Big Talk Productions and Mischief Screen, is based on the latter’s eponymous play from the team behind Peter Pan Goes Wrong and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong.
The first season followed the Cornley Drama Society undertaking another overly ambitious endeavour, held back by prolific over-actor Robert Grove, the screen-hogging Sandra Wilkinson and the artistically mistrusted Dennis Tyde. The half-hour episodes are described as “theatrical catastrophe”.
The Goes Wrong Show is written by and stars the original founding Mischief Theatre members including Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields alongside Nancy Zamit, Charlie Russell, Bryony Corrigan, Greg Tannahill, Dave Hearn and Chris Leask. It is filmed in front of a live studio audience.
Lionsgate sells internationally in a deal similar to its arrangement for Sharon Horgan-penned Motherland.
- 2/14/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Amazon has partnered with the BBC on a British comedy drama created by The Office co-creator Stephen Merchant and Mayans M.C. co-creator Elgin James.
The Svod service and the British public broadcaster have ordered crime thriller-meets-state-of-the-nation commentary The Offenders (w/t) from Mum producer Big Talk and Merchant’s Four Eyes. It is the latest co-production between Amazon Studios and the BBC, which have previously partnered on Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s award-winning Fleabag and Steve McQueen’s drama Small Axe.
The six-part series, which consists of hour-long episodes, follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a community payback sentence in Bristol. Although they seem like archetypes, they should not be pigeon-holed. As their unlikely new friendships intersect with their complicated private lives, the group must unite to protect one of their own from Bristol’s most dangerous criminal gang.
Merchant, who also created and...
The Svod service and the British public broadcaster have ordered crime thriller-meets-state-of-the-nation commentary The Offenders (w/t) from Mum producer Big Talk and Merchant’s Four Eyes. It is the latest co-production between Amazon Studios and the BBC, which have previously partnered on Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s award-winning Fleabag and Steve McQueen’s drama Small Axe.
The six-part series, which consists of hour-long episodes, follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a community payback sentence in Bristol. Although they seem like archetypes, they should not be pigeon-holed. As their unlikely new friendships intersect with their complicated private lives, the group must unite to protect one of their own from Bristol’s most dangerous criminal gang.
Merchant, who also created and...
- 1/6/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC Two has commissioned a second series of Big Talk Productions’ legal comedy Defending The Guilty.
Will Sharpe will return as idealistic rookie barrister Will Packham, who is learning his trade from Humans star Katherine Parkinson’s Caroline, a cynical, worldly-wise pupilmaster.
Mark Bonnar (Catastrophe), Gwyneth Keyworth (Black Mirror) and Prasanna Puwanarajah also star in the show.
The comedy is written by Kieron Quirke, who wrote Cuckoo, and is based on the book Defending The Guilty: Truth And Lies In The Criminal Courtroom by Alex McBride.
Big Talk CEO Kenton Allen, Saurabh Kakkar, and Quirke are the executive producers for the ITV Studios-owned indie, while Kate Daughton is the executive producer for the BBC. Jim Field Smith is the co-executive producer.
The six-part second series was commissioned by BBC comedy controller Shane Allen, Daughton and Patrick Holland, the controller of BBC Two.
Will Sharpe will return as idealistic rookie barrister Will Packham, who is learning his trade from Humans star Katherine Parkinson’s Caroline, a cynical, worldly-wise pupilmaster.
Mark Bonnar (Catastrophe), Gwyneth Keyworth (Black Mirror) and Prasanna Puwanarajah also star in the show.
The comedy is written by Kieron Quirke, who wrote Cuckoo, and is based on the book Defending The Guilty: Truth And Lies In The Criminal Courtroom by Alex McBride.
Big Talk CEO Kenton Allen, Saurabh Kakkar, and Quirke are the executive producers for the ITV Studios-owned indie, while Kate Daughton is the executive producer for the BBC. Jim Field Smith is the co-executive producer.
The six-part second series was commissioned by BBC comedy controller Shane Allen, Daughton and Patrick Holland, the controller of BBC Two.
- 10/23/2019
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Daisy May Cooper, the star of hit BBC comedy “This Country,” is to play a suspected witch being escorted to trial in 17th-century England in new BBC Two comedy series “The Witchfinder.”
Cooper will star alongside actor and comedian Tim Key, who plays a failing witch hunter transporting her to a trial that could change his fortunes forever. But his captive is the worst possible travel companion: an inquisitive, uncouth woman whose ability to prick his pomposity and ask uncomfortable questions turns a straightforward journey into a life-changing ordeal.
Set in 1647, in the middle of the English Civil War, “The Witchfinder” is created by Neil and Rob Gibbons, the writers and directors of Steve Coogan-starring “This Time With Alan Partridge.”
The six-part series is produced by Coogan’s production company, Baby Cow, whose credits include “The Trip,” starring Coogan and Rob Brydon, as well as features “Alpha Papa” and “Philomena.
Cooper will star alongside actor and comedian Tim Key, who plays a failing witch hunter transporting her to a trial that could change his fortunes forever. But his captive is the worst possible travel companion: an inquisitive, uncouth woman whose ability to prick his pomposity and ask uncomfortable questions turns a straightforward journey into a life-changing ordeal.
Set in 1647, in the middle of the English Civil War, “The Witchfinder” is created by Neil and Rob Gibbons, the writers and directors of Steve Coogan-starring “This Time With Alan Partridge.”
The six-part series is produced by Coogan’s production company, Baby Cow, whose credits include “The Trip,” starring Coogan and Rob Brydon, as well as features “Alpha Papa” and “Philomena.
- 10/17/2019
- by Tim Dams
- Variety Film + TV
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are to produce a sitcom for the BBC starring British comedian Sara Pascoe.
The pair’s Stolen Picture banner, which is backed by Sony Pictures Television is behind the untitled six-part series for BBC Two. It is their latest TV commission since forming the production company, after Deadline revealed that they are adapting Ben Aaronovitch’s fantasy drama Rivers of London.
Pascoe, a well known stand up who starred in BBC comedy W1A, is co-producing the series, which is about family, relationships and biology. She subverts the traditional sitcom format by combining her eccentric characters, surreal moments and factual insight. Pascoe doesn’t know why everyone else in the world is pairing up and having babies and sets out on a mission to understand them. She tries to prove that romantic love is mere chemicals and conditioning and doesn’t deserve our respect. This conflicts...
The pair’s Stolen Picture banner, which is backed by Sony Pictures Television is behind the untitled six-part series for BBC Two. It is their latest TV commission since forming the production company, after Deadline revealed that they are adapting Ben Aaronovitch’s fantasy drama Rivers of London.
Pascoe, a well known stand up who starred in BBC comedy W1A, is co-producing the series, which is about family, relationships and biology. She subverts the traditional sitcom format by combining her eccentric characters, surreal moments and factual insight. Pascoe doesn’t know why everyone else in the world is pairing up and having babies and sets out on a mission to understand them. She tries to prove that romantic love is mere chemicals and conditioning and doesn’t deserve our respect. This conflicts...
- 8/21/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Lionsgate has partnered with Big Talk Productions and Mischief Screen to bring a comedy stage play to BBC One.
The British public broadcaster has commissioned The Goes Wrong Show, which is based on Mischief Theatre’s eponymous play from the team behind Peter Pan Goes Wrong and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, which were previously adapted for television.
The six-part series follows the Cornley Drama Society undertaking another overly ambitious endeavour, held back by prolific over-actor Robert Grove, the screen-hogging Sandra Wilkinson and the artistically mistrusted Dennis Tyde. The half-hour episodes are described as “theatrical catastrophe”.
The Goes Wrong Show will be written by and star the original founding Mischief Theatre members including Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields alongside Nancy Zamit, Charlie Russell, Bryony Corrigan, Greg Tannahill, Dave Hearn and Chris Leask. It will be filmed in front of a live studio audience.
The Goes Wrong Show is...
The British public broadcaster has commissioned The Goes Wrong Show, which is based on Mischief Theatre’s eponymous play from the team behind Peter Pan Goes Wrong and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, which were previously adapted for television.
The six-part series follows the Cornley Drama Society undertaking another overly ambitious endeavour, held back by prolific over-actor Robert Grove, the screen-hogging Sandra Wilkinson and the artistically mistrusted Dennis Tyde. The half-hour episodes are described as “theatrical catastrophe”.
The Goes Wrong Show will be written by and star the original founding Mischief Theatre members including Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields alongside Nancy Zamit, Charlie Russell, Bryony Corrigan, Greg Tannahill, Dave Hearn and Chris Leask. It will be filmed in front of a live studio audience.
The Goes Wrong Show is...
- 2/22/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC Three and Amazon have revealed the first look at Season 2 of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s comedy Fleabag as filming begins.
The second season, which is produced by All3Media’s Two Brothers Pictures, will pick up not too far from the end of the first season. Fleabag’s family is as dysfunctional as ever: her uptight sister Claire, played by Sian Clifford, hasn’t forgiven her, and Claire’s obnoxious alcoholic husband is still on the scene, while the pair are presenting a united front as they come to term with their father’s relationship with their godmother, played by Olivia Colman.
Bill Paterson, Brett Gelman, Jenny Rainsford and Hugh Skinner return, while Sherlock’s Andrew Scott joins the cast.
Waller-Bridge, who has starred in Solo: A Star Wars Story and wrote and executive produced Killing Eve between the two seasons, has written the comedy, stepping away from Season 2 of the...
The second season, which is produced by All3Media’s Two Brothers Pictures, will pick up not too far from the end of the first season. Fleabag’s family is as dysfunctional as ever: her uptight sister Claire, played by Sian Clifford, hasn’t forgiven her, and Claire’s obnoxious alcoholic husband is still on the scene, while the pair are presenting a united front as they come to term with their father’s relationship with their godmother, played by Olivia Colman.
Bill Paterson, Brett Gelman, Jenny Rainsford and Hugh Skinner return, while Sherlock’s Andrew Scott joins the cast.
Waller-Bridge, who has starred in Solo: A Star Wars Story and wrote and executive produced Killing Eve between the two seasons, has written the comedy, stepping away from Season 2 of the...
- 11/28/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Projects from Riz Ahmed, David Harewood and The Fall creator Allan Cubitt lead an ambitious line-up of new commissions from BBC Two. The British public broadcaster has unveiled a huge slate of shows for its second channel ranging from high-end dramas and comedies through to documentary series.
In drama, it has ordered Englistan, created by The Night Of star Riz Ahmed. The nine-part series, which is produced by BBC Studios Drama London and Ahmed’s own Left Handed Films, is the story of three generations of a British Pakistani families as they pursue their dreams over four tumultuous decades, navigating shifting circumstances and evolving loyalties. The drama will re-frame recent British history, and shine a light on the forces that have remade British society what it is today. It will be exec produced by Ahmed, Esther Springer, Hilary Salmon and Lucy Richer.
The Fall creator Cubitt is adapting Eugene McCabe...
In drama, it has ordered Englistan, created by The Night Of star Riz Ahmed. The nine-part series, which is produced by BBC Studios Drama London and Ahmed’s own Left Handed Films, is the story of three generations of a British Pakistani families as they pursue their dreams over four tumultuous decades, navigating shifting circumstances and evolving loyalties. The drama will re-frame recent British history, and shine a light on the forces that have remade British society what it is today. It will be exec produced by Ahmed, Esther Springer, Hilary Salmon and Lucy Richer.
The Fall creator Cubitt is adapting Eugene McCabe...
- 4/30/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
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