News

Exclusive: Starstruck co-writer Alice Snedden is directing a Channel 4 comedy about love in the cost-of-living crisis.

Snedden is helming a one-off for Channel’s 4 Blap strand titled Break Clause, which is written and created by Jess Bray (The Outlaws) and will star BAFTA-nominee Samuel Bottomley, Lara Ricote (Live at the Apollo), Jamali Maddix (Never Mind the Buzzcocks), Lauryn Ajufo (Everything Now) and Leo Reich (Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!).

In Break Clause, Lil and Ben get together but swiftly break up on the first night of moving in together, quickly finding themselves in a legally binding contract they can only end after a fixed term period of six months. The show was described as “the true cost of loving in a cost-of-living crisis” by Channel 4.

Break Clause has shades of Starstruck, the BBC-HBO comedy that Snedden co-wrote with its creator Rose Matafeo.

First-look photos of Malala Yousafzai’s cameo in the second season of We Are Lady Parts, launching on Peacock in the U.S. and on Channel 4 in the U.K. on Thursday, May 30, have been released and feature her in fringed western wear.

Early glimpses of her season 2 appearance also show the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner wearing a cowboy hat atop a horse. Produced by Working Title Television, part of Universal International Studios, the show is written, created, and executive-produced by Nida Manzoor.

The cast of ‘We Are Lady Parts’.

Yousafzai, a fierce advocate for girls’ education, joins We Are Lady Parts band members Anjana Vasan (Wicked Little Letters, Black Mirror), Sarah Kameela Impey (Vera, Halcyon Heights), Juliette Motamed (Halo, Magic Mike’s Last Dance), Faith Omole (An Ideal Husband, Endeavour) and Lucie Shorthouse (Rebus, Henpocalypse!).

Season two sees their band return with “a renewed artistic mission after the high of their first U.

Peacock has announced that We Are Lady Parts Season 2 will premiere on the streaming service on May 30, 2024. The new season will consist of six episodes, all of which will be available at launch.

Peacock also revealed that education activist Malala Yousafzai and comedian Meera Syal are set to guest star in the second season. You can catch up on Season 1 of the music-infused comedy, which is streaming now on Peacock.

Season two of We Are Lady Parts sees the band return with a renewed artistic mission after the high of their first UK tour, only to find a rival band threatens their delicate status quo.

As the reality of chasing success sets in, Lady Parts embark on recording their first album, juggling personal ambitions and deciding whether ‘making it big’ is really what they wanted. The series comes from Nida Manzoor and Universal International Studios’ Working Title Television.

“Making season...

Exclusive: Tubi is set to premiere the Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West comedy series Big Mood exclusively in the U.S. and Canada in April.

The six-episode series is written and created by Camilla Whitehill, directed by Rebecca Asher and produced by Fremantle’s Dancing Ledge Productions.

Big Mood follows best friends Maggie and Eddiewho have lived in each other’s pockets for ten years, through thick, thin and multiple challenging eyebrow trends. But with the rest of their lives looming, careers hanging in the balance and Maggie’s bipolar disorder making an unwelcome return to form, Eddie begins to question whether this friendship is really in their best interests.

It’s a pivotal point in both their lives, bringing to the surface those all-important questions – could sleeping with your former History teacher be the key to happiness?...

First Look

U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 has released a first look image of its new comedy series, “Big Mood” (working title), produced by Fremantle‘s Dancing Ledge Productions. The six-part series explores the intricacies of female friendship when confronted with the complexities of serious mental illness.

Starring in the show are Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West. Joining the ensemble cast are Niamh Cusack, Eamon Farren, Luke Fetherston, Kate Fleetwood, Rob Gilbert, Rebecca Lowman, Sally Phillips, Ukweli Roach, and Amalia Vitale. The cast also includes Olu Adaeze, Max Bennett, Skylar Betteridge, David Bedella, Tim Downie, Ron Donachie, Sarah Durham, Lara Grace Ilori, Neil Edmond, Amy Gledhill, Maddie Grace Jepson, Tom Rhys Harries, Layla-Belle Matthews, Simon Meacock, David Mumeni, David Newman, Freya Parker, Shuna Snow, Sid Sagar, Stephen Sobal, Lottie Tolhurst, Isobel Thom and Robin Weaver.

Joanna Page, best known for her roles in “Love Actually” and “Gavin and Stacey,” will make a guest appearance,...

“Bridgerton’s” Nicola Coughlan and “It’s a Sin’s” Lydia West are set to co-star in a new comedy for Channel 4 titled “Big Mood” (working title).

The show, which was previously titled “Super Close,” will be produced by Fremantle’s Dancing Ledge Productions. It was written and created by Camilla Whitehill (“Porters”). “Brooklyn Nine Nine” director Rebecca Asher is also on board to helm the six part series, which is set to start shooting this spring. Fremantle will handle global sales.

According to the logline, the show “is a vivacious and rebellious portrayal of female friendship when infiltrated by the complexities of a serious mental illness.”

It follows the friendship of Maggie (Coughlan) and Eddie (West) who spent their twenties living in each other’s pockets.

But as they look forward to the next decade – with all its pressures, career-related and otherwise – Maggie’s bipolar disorder makes an unwelcome return.

U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 has appointed Charlie Perkins as head of comedy, reporting into chief content officer Ian Katz. Former head of comedy Fiona McDermott left Channel 4 in March to join Apple TV+.

Perkins will manage a team comprising newly promoted commissioning editor Laura Riseam and commissioning executive Joe Hullait. She will also oversee the appointment of a new senior commissioning editor. Channel 4 commissioning editor Jack Bayles is leaving the broadcaster to join “I May Destroy You” producer Various Artists Limited as head of comedy.

Perkins, who will take up the role at Channel 4 later this year, joins from Blink Industries where she was head of comedy. She began her career working on shows such as “Little Britain,” “French & Saunders,” “Benidorm” and “Mock the Week,” moving on to become a producer at alternative comedy venue The Invisible Dot, BBC Radio Comedy and Cave Bear Productions. In 2013, Perkins founded The Paddock comedy collective,...

Channel 4 Hires Charlie Perkins As Head Of Comedy

UK broadcaster Channel 4 has hired Charlies Perkins as its new head of comedy, replacing Fiona McDermott, who recently left to join Apple TV+ after delivering series such as Derry Girls, We Are Lady Parts and Big Boys. The hire brings to an end a lengthy search for McDermott’s successor. Perkins will report directly to Chief Content Officer Ian Katz and will manage a team comprising newly promoted Commissioning Editor Laura Riseam and Commissioning Executive Joe Hullait. She will also oversee the appointment of a Senior Commissioning Editor, and Deadline understands several candidates have been approached. Perkins arrives from London-based Blink Industries, which is behind the upcoming series Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared for Channel 4. Perkins began her career on shows such as Little Britain, French & Saunders, Benidorm and Mock the Week, moving on to become a producer at alternative comedy venue The Invisible Dot,...

British broadcaster Channel 4 has ordered an apocalyptic comedy series starring Friday Night Dinner and The Inbetweeners star Simon Bird.

The ad-supported, public service broadcaster has handed the six-part order to Jax Media, the company behind series including Netflix’s Russian Doll and HBO Max’s Search Party, and Universal International Studios, the London-led global production arm of the NBCU studio.

Everyone Else Burns explores life in a hyper-religious community and asks: how does an idiosyncratic family navigating modern day life protect themselves from eternal hell fire?

Bird stars alongside Kate O’Flynn, Amy James-Kelly, Lolly Adefope, Al Roberts, Soph Galustian, Harry Connor, Ali Khan, Lloyd Griffith, Kadiff Kirwan, Morgana Robinson, Arsher Ali, Liam Williams, Kath Hughes, and Seb Cardinal.

It is a coming-of-age comedy about a Mancunian family and the puritanical Christian sect they are devoted to. Will patriarchal David Lewis ever ascend the church ranks and become an Elder?...

A first look at the third and final season of “Derry Girls” is finally here — and just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 has unveiled the first Season 3 still and trailer for the show, which garnered global popularity via Netflix. The drama is created and written by Lisa McGee, who mined her own experiences growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

While Season 1 observed the gang navigating their teens in 1990s Derry against a backdrop of The Troubles, Season 2 charted the group navigating their parents, parties, love interests and school against the backdrop of a precarious peace process. In Season 3 — which still doesn’t have a launch date on Channel 4 — viewers will see that while Northern Ireland is growing up, “this gang of eejits certainly aren’t anytime soon.”

“While there’s hope in the air that The Troubles may finally be over,...

British broadcaster Channel 4has unveiled its latest programming slate including a Muslim punk comedy, a three-part doc series about Russian President Vladimir Putin and a reality series set within a Namibian tribe.

The shows were announced by Channel 4 at the start of the Edinburgh International Television Festival.

NBCU-backed Working Title Television is making Lady Parts, a six-part comedy about an all female Muslim punk band. From writer/director Nida Manzoor, the half-hour series follows the eponymous band, featuring geeky Phd student and lead guitarist Amina Hussein and fierce and enigmatic front-woman Saira. Saira uses Amina’s desperation to find a husband as leverage, offering to hook up dates for her if she agrees to join the band. Amina has never, ever met girls like this before, and soon gets swept up in their joyful anarchic energy. But will she be the key to the band’s success? And...

Exclusive: Rising Canadian comedian Mae Martin has created and will star in a semi-autobiographical comedy for Netflix and British broadcaster Channel 4.

Martin is behind Mae and George (w/t), a six-part series produced by Fresh Meat and Peep Show producer Objective Fiction. It marks the latest co-production between the two companies, following breakout hit The End of the Fxxxing World.

The series follows recovering addict and comedian Mae, who is trying to control the addictive behaviors and intense romanticism that permeate every facet of her life. Life is further complicated by a new and all consuming relationship with her new girlfriend George. The story is described as “deeply personal” and “darkly hilarious” and centers around the unique pressures of navigating the modern-day fluid landscape of gender and sexuality.

Martin is co-writing with Joe Hampson, who has written for shows including Skins, The News Quiz and Newsjack.

It will air...

British broadcaster Channel 4 has appointed People Just Do Nothing producer Jon Petrie as a comedy commissioning editor.

He has produced all five seasons of the mockumentary comedy, which airs on BBC Three, working for Ash Atalla’s Roughcut Television as well as his own Roughcut-backed indie Little A. He also recently produced Stath Lets Flats for C4.

Petrie, who has also produces series including Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Qi and Comic Relief, will join the channel in early 2019 and will report to Head of Comedy Fiona McDermott. He will work alongside Commissioning Editor Jack Bayles and Laura Riseam, who has recently been promoted to Commissioning Executive in the team.

Channel 4’s comedy slate includes Amazon co-pro Catastrophe and Hulu co-pro The Bisexual with new series coming up including Happy Af, Year of the Rabbit and Maxxx.

McDermott said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Jon to the team. He...

Bad Robots has been renewed for a second series by E4.

The hidden camera show - which sees mischievous and evil robots causing havoc to unsuspecting members of the public - will return for six more episodes.

The series focuses on machines from the fictional company TezCorp Industries, who make everyday tasks extremely difficult.

Stars such as Sir Michael Gambon and Rob Delaney provide voices for the robots in the show, which was a hit in the ratings for E4.

Some of the first series' robots - including photo booths and pub quiz machines - will return for the new episodes, joined by some "brand new automated hell raisers".

The pre-watershed version of the show, Bad-ish Robots, will also return.

Channel 4's commissioner Laura Riseam said: "We are so pleased with the success of the first series and can't wait to unleash the troublemaking machines on the unknowing public once again.