BBC Three orders Fleabag series
- BBC Three has ordered a new six-part comedy series called Fleabag
- The show has been created by and stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge (from Channel 4's Crashing)
- The cast list for Fleabag includes Olivia Colman, Bill Paterson and Hugh Dennis
BBC Three has announced a new TV comedy series called Fleabag.
The six-part series focuses on "a dry-witted, angry, cash-strapped, grief-riddled, porn-watching young woman trying to come to terms with a recent tragedy."
The show is written by and stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the comedy actress who created Channel 4's Crashing. This new series will be an adaptation of her award-winning Edinburgh Fringe play which she performed at the festival in 2013 to critical acclaim.
Waller-Bridge will take on the central role in the new series. The BBC explains: "As she hurls herself headlong at modern living, Fleabag is thrown roughly up against the walls of contemporary London, sleeping with anyone who dares to stand too close, squeezing money from wherever she can, rejecting anyone who tries to help her, and keeping up her bravado throughout."
The cast list will also include Olivia Colman (Peep Show), Bill Paterson (Dad's Army), Hugh Dennis (Outnumbered), Hugh Skinner (W1A), Jamie Demetriou (People Time), Jenny Rainsford, Sian Clifford and US comedian Brett Gelman (Curb Your Enthusiasm).
Speaking about bringing her play to screens, Phoebe Waller-Bridge says: "'I can't believe they've let me do this."
BBC Three's Damian Kavanagh comments: "BBC Three is home to the best new British comedy. We're thrilled Phoebe and the cast will be joining People Just Do Nothing, Cuckoo, Josh, Witless, Sunny D and all our other original British comedy on BBC Three."
BBC commissioner Shane Allen adds: "This knocked me for six when I saw the one woman stage play, utterly distinctive and the writing has attracted the wish-list cast for the TV series. Phoebe is destined for great things and it's a perfect fit for BBC Three, whose mission is to uncover and nurture the writing and performing stars of tomorrow."
Production company Two Brothers Pictures begins filming Fleabag this week, with Harry Bradbeer (No Offence) in the Director's chair.
The six episodes will be available on BBC Three later this year.
In the below video from 2014, Phoebe Waller-Bridge talks about her character in Fleabag: