Channel 4 has commissioned two new sitcoms from Roughcut (Stepping Up, written by and starring Josh Pugh) and Boffola Pictures (Pigeon, written and created by Katy Wix and Adam Drake).
From Roughcut Television (Big Boys, We Might Regret This, Things You Should Have Done), Stepping Up is written by and stars Josh Pugh (Sneakerhead, Live at the Apollo), who plays… Josh: an over-enthusiastic stepdad bringing well intentioned chaos to his new – and previously harmonious – family unit.
Josh is desperate to prove his worth as the perfect role model to his stepchildren, the ideal partner to his girlfriend, and as an all-round ‘Good Bloke’. Unfortunately for Josh, absolutely everyone in his life is totally fine and would much rather he stopped trying so incredibly hard to help and impress them all the time. No-one needs him to, but Josh is ‘stepping up’ anyway.
Charlie Perkins, Head of Comedy Channel 4, says: “There’s something magic in Josh’s naturalism that I don’t think we’ve seen in a sitcom before – he’s magnetic on screen and his writing under the expert shepherding of Roughcut is the perfect mix of hyper silly and hyper real. An exciting, new, natural born sitcom star in a simple sitcom world. Channel 4 are really proud that Stepping Up continues our work with Josh across the channel.”
Josh Pugh, Writer of Stepping Up, says: “I’m over the moon to be doing something that very few people get to do in their lives and make a sitcom. I live and grew up in a small town with stepparents on both sides, and I think it’s a huge untapped well of comedy. A huge number of people in Britain are navigating the complexities of bringing other people’s kids up and I want to capture that in a really funny and authentic sitcom that is also hopefully financially lucrative.”
Steve Monger, Executive Producer at Roughcut TV, comments: “Josh is a brilliantly talented writer, performer, stand-up and king of socials skits. In Stepping Up he’s created a truly original, raucous and refreshing take on the family sitcom; Roughcut are very proud to be bringing this to life with Josh and Channel 4. See you in the Midlands!”
The series commission follows its successful release as part of Channel 4’s Comedy Blaps strand.
Commissioned for Channel 4 by Charlie Perkins, Head of Comedy, Andy Brereton, Senior Commissioning Editor and Joe Hullait, Commissioning Executive, Stepping Up is a 6×30” production from Roughcut Television. Executive Producers are Ash Atalla, Alex Smith and Steve Monger. The series producer is Ben Worsfield.
Casting details and the transmission (TX) date for Stepping Up will be announced in due course.
From Boffola Pictures (Am I Being Unreasonable?, The Power of Parker), and written and created by Katy Wix (Big Boys, Ghosts, Stath Lets Flats) and Adam Drake (Extraordinary, Juice) Channel 4 has commissioned Pigeon (w/t), a family sitcom about the empty nest filling back up again.
Failed dreams and rash life choices have forced Kathryn (Katy Wix) – who thought she had all the answers but didn’t listen to the question – from the big city of Chester back to South Wales and the family home she thought she’d escaped. Waiting for her there is mum Mandy, an attention seeking dance teacher with a touch of suburban glamour, and younger sister Aubrey, a teenage boy trapped in an adult woman’s body.
Just up the road is her ex from her teenage years, Roy, a big silly dog trapped in an adult man’s body, and her dad, Rhodri, who moved out years ago and only understands “women’s issues” when they’re put in language you’d use about a car.
Katy Wix says: “This is a show I’ve wanted to make for so long. The characters have been living in my head and I can’t wait to bring them to the screen. Thank you to Channel 4 for trusting me with this dream! Adam’s happy too”.
Adam Drake adds: “I’m so happy.”
Charlie Perkins, Head of Comedy Channel 4 says: “We can’t wait for audiences to see this special show- both a culturally timely and hugely familiar family sitcom. We’ve loved the process of working with Katy, Adam and Boffola- amazing creative brains with tenacity and passion to boot.”
Shane Allen, Chief Creative Officer, Boffola Pictures, says: “You know those perfect families who are able to show each other love and are there for you when you need them? They’re great for adverts but don’t make for very good comedy. This sitcom instead brings you a typically wonky working-class family awash with off the wall characters. It’s a celebration of everyday eccentricities, idiosyncrasies and contains at least one idiot. Katy and Adam have conjured up something that brings to mind The Royle Family with their depiction of life behind the front door.”
Commissioned for Channel 4 by Charlie Perkins, Head of Comedy and Andy Brereton, Senior Commissioning Editor, Pigeon (w/t) is a 6×30” production for Channel 4 from Boffola Pictures. Shane Allen will executive produce for Boffola Pictures alongside Katy Wix and Adam Drake, and the producer is Joe Nunnery (Ladhood, Peaked). BBC Studios, which has a minority investment stake in Boffola Pictures, will handle global sales.
Further casting, further details and transmission date will be announced in due course.
Jon Creamer
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