Rose Matafeo gets a second series of her BBC sitcom Starstruck
- Rose Matafeo is writing a second series of her sitcom Starstruck, before the first has even been filmed
- The decision was made earlier this year, as filming on Series 1 was postponed till the autumn
- The comedy is to be released by streaming services BBC Three, and HBO Max in the US
Rose Matafeo is writing a second series of her new BBC sitcom, before the first has even been filmed.
The 2018 Edinburgh Comedy Award-winner plays Rose in Starstruck: a twenty-something juggling two dead-end jobs in London whilst navigating the awkward consequences of accidentally sleeping with a film star.
Shooting on the six-part BBC Three series was due to begin in the capital in March, but was forced to postpone at the last minute because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Production is now set to begin in the autumn, with both Series 1 and 2 potentially filming in quick succession.
"We were on our way to do a readthrough with the whole cast and we were a week out from shooting," Matafeo told fellow Kiwi stand-up James Nokise on his Eating Fried Chicken In The Shower podcast.
"I got in that morning. And the producer came out of a meeting and was like 'so, little change of plans, we are shifting all of the filming to October and you are going to write a second series of the show'.
"And so we could possibly do two series back-to-back."
She and her co-writer, comedian Alice Snedden, subsequently returned to New Zealand.
Matafeo is currently performing a mini stand-up tour in her homeland with Guy Montgomery and has been working on a second series of the Kiwi sitcom Golden Boy, but is planning to return to London next month.
Further cast details for Starstruck have yet to emerge, however Emma Sidi, Matafeo's sometime UK flatmate, played the role of Emma in the sitcom's 2019 non-broadcast pilot episode.
Produced by Toby Welch (Catastrophe, Breeders) for Avalon Television (Taskmaster, Man Down), Starstruck is directed by American writer-helmer Karen Maine, whose credits include the acclaimed 2014 film Obvious Child, about a comedian's unwanted pregnancy; and the sexual coming-of-age comedy Yes, God, Yes, which will be released on video-on-demand platforms in the UK on Monday 17th August (trailer).
Matafeo, who told Nokise, a distant relative, that she has no intention of having children herself, also stars in the unplanned pregnancy comedy Baby Done, alongside Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter, Bluestone 42), coming to cinemas next year (trailer).
A BBC spokesperson told British Comedy Guide that they were unable to confirm further details about Starstruck. The sitcom will launch on BBC Three and HBO Max in the US simultaneously, with broadcasting rights also sold to ABC in Australia and TVNZ in New Zealand.
HBO Max has also secured the rights to release Matafeo's Edinburgh Comedy Award-winning stand-up show Horndog, recorded at London's Ambassador's Theatre in January. A UK broadcaster is yet to be announced.
Matafeo has also been developing a BBC Studios sketch show, Party Game, with Sidi and Lolly Adefope.