Charles Dance, Johnny Vegas, Katy Brand, Jessica Hynes and a wealth of comedy talent join Sky Atlantic HD’s series of 10 shorts ‘Common People’
10 x 11’ coming exclusively to Sky Atlantic HD in January 2013
DATE: As part of Sky’s continuing investment in original UK comedy, Sky Atlantic HD today announces a raft of comedy talent that have joined its upcoming commission COMMON PEOPLE (previously titled Comedy Republic). COMMON PEOPLE consists of 10 x 11’ shorts from Baby Cow Productions, and will air exclusively to Sky customers as part of Sky Atlantic HD’s Comedy Mondays.
COMMON PEOPLE is a series set in South London, featuring new comedy scenarios, linked by characters and locations. Names for the series include: CHARLES DANCE, JOHNNY VEGAS, KATY BRAND, JESSICA HYNES, TOM DAVIS, ALEX LOWE, TOM PALMER and RUFUS JONES.
Director of Sky Atlantic HD, Elaine Pyke comments: “Comedy Monday’s is proving to be a big hit with Sky Atlantic customers and I’m delighted to add Common People to our incredible comedy slate. Common People is a key show that will further build the channel’s unique voice.”
The shorts are as follows:
SUNSHINE iswritten by and stars TOM DAVIS (Comedy Lab)and ELEANOR LAWRENCE (Mid Morning Matters). South London crook Simon ‘Sunshine’ Wilson (Davis) is a big fish in a small pond. He means well and tries to be as ‘legitimate’ as possible for his wife Kelly (Lawrence) and their two daughters, but news that old pal, Mad Mickey Quinn (SEAN PERTWEE, Luther) has escaped from a prison van, is quite the surprise. BRENDAN COYLE (Starlings, Downton Abbey) will also be making an appearance as DI Tommy Cockburn – the man who originally sent Mad Mickey to jail.
BAD GRANDAD is written by MARK WARREN and FRASER STEELE (Never Mind the Buzzcocks). Ex tour manager Floyd (CHARLES DANCE, Game of Thrones) is used to mingling with the stars. Now in retirement, he is still as rock ‘n’ roll as ever; a flamboyant, free spirited, party goer. His rather uptight ballet teacher daughter Becky (AMELIA BULLMORE, Scott & Bailey) and her palliative care consultant husband Jack (HUGO SPEER, The Full Monty) certainly have their work cut out with this firecracker, especially when their teenage daughter Becky wants to attend a music festival.
THE CHOIR written by and starring DANIEL LAWRENCE TAYLOR (Hunderby), ERI JACKSON (Life’s Too Short)and DANNY MORGAN (Comedy Lab) is the story of the Ginger twins Nell (Jackson) and Ted (Morgan) and the man who dares to come between them - Marlon (Taylor). Set in the local community centre, ex-So Solid Crew member Marlon unwittingly embarks on a power struggle with over protective brother Ted when he recognises his sister Nell’s singing talent. Marlon claims to have had a glittering past life in the music industry but is he all he appears to be? Also starring is ANNETTE CROSBIE (One Foot in the Grave) – a member of the choir who is constantly in denial about her age and in desperate need of someone to follow.
TATT written by and starring JOHNNY VEGAS (Benidorm, Little Crackers)and TONY PITTS (Emmerdale) is set entirely in a tattoo parlour just off the local high street. Following the death of his father, Rupert (Vegas) reluctantly takes on the family business. As the story begins, his Australian girlfriend Jill (CELIA PACQUOLA) delivers the news that her visa has just run out, while Rupert finds himself drawn to his Dad’s girlfriend, Fiona (JOSIE LAWRENCE). Other characters include Ade (Pitts) - an alzhemiers sufferer who tattoos himself with essential information.
BARRY’S BUCKET LIST, written by ALEX LOWE (Barry from Watford) and FRASER STEELE,is the story of Barry (Lowe), an 82 year old man whose wife has just left him. After digging up an old tin in the garden, Barry finds his ‘Bucket List’ of dreams and decides to give it another go. Also starring are LINDA ROBSON (Birds of a Feather) as Barry’s daughter Michelle, and AYUK MARCHANT as his grandson, Leyton.
ADVENTURE VENTURE is written by and stars TOM PALMER (Doctor Who) and TOM STOURTON (Comedy Lab). Crispin (Palmer) and Fergus (Stourton) are terribly posh and terribly bad entrepreneurs. Their company is going down the pan, they’re up to their eye balls in debt and Fergus has still decided to turn down the offer of financial help from his sister Jennifer (LISA JACKSON, Channel 4’s Comedy Showcase). If that isn’t enough, Crispin’s girlfriend Emma (JESSICA GUNNING, Law & Order UK) appears to be getting rather close to her friend Lawrence (BRETT GOLDSTEIN).
PERSONAL TRAINER, written by SIMON DAY (The Fast Show) and ANDREW COLLINS (creator of BBC Radio 4 sitcom, Mr Blue Sky) follows personal trainer Colin Reed (Day) who has a variety of clients. The first being Jason (HARRY FORSTER), a 12 year old boy whose mother Colin fancies. Colin has to tell Jason that he is reducing their sessions to make way for Hollywood bound actor Alfie (ADAM RICHES, Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner).
ELEANOR POPPLEWELL is written by and stars KATY BRAND (Katy Brand’s Big Ass Show). When Eleanor Popplewell’s (Brand) beloved organic shop and café goes out of business, she is hardly happy that Tony who owns the greasy spoon tries to take it over. Tony is Mediterranean, impossibly passionate and has a seriously soft spot for Eleanor but will he ever be made to see her point of view?
POLITICALLY INCORRECT is written by and stars JESSICA HYNES (Twenty Twelve) and is based on her recent cameo in Sky 1 HD’s Moone Boy. Local Councillor Patricia David (Hynes) seems to have perfected the art of getting away with making terrible work and life decisions. Approaching menopause, on mixed medication, single and living on her own, Patricia manages to dodge professional bullets with sheer luck and a talent for being somewhere else - both mentally and physically - at exactly the right time. Also starring is LISA HAMMOND (Moone Boy, Psychoville) as Patricia’s rather hopeless secretary.
SCOUNDRELS, written by and starring RUFUS JONES (Hunderby) and DAN SKINNER, is the story of ex-city banker, Bill (Jones), who has had a mighty fall from grace after being accused of embezzling the bank. He has been forced to move in with his brother Sinclair (Skinner) who takes great delight in this new turn of events, especially as Bill’s wife Francesca knows nothing of her husband’s sticky situation…
COMMON PEOPLE forms part of Sky’s commitment to increase its investment in original British content by 50% over the next three years, which has so far delivered breakout hits such as TROLLIED, STELLA and HUNDERBY.
Sky Atlantic HD is committed to bringing immersive and innovative content to screen from both sides of the Atlantic, from award-winning MAD MEN and GAME OF THRONES to UK-originations such as HIT & MISS, created by Paul Abbott and starring Chloe Sevigny and THE BRITISH, the channel’s first foray into high-end factual; an epic reconstruction of the history of our nation, told through inspiring stories of human endeavour, the Great British spirit that has made us who we are today.
COMMON PEOPLE is a Baby Cow production, exclusively for Sky Atlantic HD. The series was commissioned by Lucy Lumsden, Sky’s Head of comedy who also executive produces with Henry Normal. The series is produced by Alison MacPhail and directed by David Lambert.
