Blake Harrison takes the lead role in E4 comedy drama Tripped
E4 has announced that The Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison will take the lead role in Tripped, a comedy drama series set in parallel universes.
Harrison will star in the series as Danny, an average 24-year-old who has been friends with stoner Milo since they were kids. But then Danny decides it's time to grow up, settle down and marry long-term girlfriend Kate, whereas Milo continues to focus on getting high.
The producers explain: "One night Milo takes a particularly strong batch of hallucinogens, and Danny appears in his living room - except the real Danny's at his engagement party, and the real Danny doesn't normally carry a sword! This Danny claims to come from another dimension, and he brings a warning - the only problem is that Milo's too wrecked to remember what it is.
"Throughout the series Danny and Milo find themselves tripping to various parallel universes where they encounter different versions of themselves, all the time being chased by a dangerous assassin. Will Danny and Milo's friendship survive their adventure in the multiverse, and will Danny manage to return to his reality and get married to his original Kate?"
E4 has ordered four hour-long episodes of Tripped, following a non-broadcast pilot episode which was made under the title Alt. Original writer Jamie Mathieson remains on the project, with Harry Williams and Jack Williams (Fried, The Missing) coming on board to write the series.
The pilot cast has been replaced with different actors for the series. Joining Blake Harrison will be acting newcomer George Webster as Milo, with Georgina Campbell as Kate. Live comedy performer Richard Gadd, best known for his show Breaking Gadd, will play the assassin.
This will be Harrison's fifth British comedy series since he rose to fame playing Neil in The Inbetweeners.
His projects since have included The Increasingly Poor Decisions Of Todd Margaret, Big Bad World, Edge Of Heaven and Way To Go (pictured). Next year he will be seen as Private Pike in the new Dad's Army film.
Harrison, talking about taking on the lead role in Tripped, says: "I'm really excited to be working on Tripped! It's always frustrating when good actors make me look bad but on this show I get to have a lot of scenes with myself so I should look alright! Also they've let me have a sword so if any one brings me a cold steak I can go full medieval Clarkson on their ass!!"
Beth Willis from Channel 4 comments: "Jack and Harry's scripts for Tripped are a breathless and brilliantly funny ride - and we're so thrilled to have Blake Harrison back on Channel 4, playing Danny and Danny and Danny."
The show is being produced by Mammoth Screen, the production company behind shows such as Blandings and Poldark. This Is Jinsy's James Dean will act as Producer, with Jamie Stone (The Village) as Director.
Preethi Mavahalli from the production company says: "We're delighted that Mammoth Screen is making its first series for E4. The mind-bending madness of Tripped is unlike anything we've ever done before which makes it especially exciting. And it's great to work with such a wonderful team - extraordinary scripts from Jack and Harry Williams, the insane talent of director Jamie Stone, and stand out performances from a brilliantly entertaining cast."
Tripped has just started filming (picture below), and will be broadcast on E4 later in the year.
