Comedy Central UK commissions its first narrative comedy series
Comedy Central UK has announced that it has commissioned a new seven-part sitcom called Threesome. This is the first narrative comedy series commission in the history of the channel.
Threesome has been written by Tom MacRae, whose previous credits include creating Sky One's light-hearted budget airline drama Mile High, and penning some episodes of Doctor Who.
The sitcom revolves about three inseparable friends on the verge of turning thirty - Alice, her boyfriend Mitch, and their gay best mate Richie. The trio live together and after one particularly big night out, they have an unplanned threesome - which results in Alice getting pregnant. Rather than splitting up, they decide to raise their baby as a threesome.
Irish actress Amy Huberman (The Clinic) has signed up to play Alice; Stephen Wight - who played Skoose in Whites and Joe in The Great Outdoors - will take on the role of Mitch; and Emun Elliott - soon to be seen in HBO's adaptation of Game of Thrones - will play Richie.
The commission follows a non-broadcast pilot of the show, which was filmed in February. Threesome (which is currently a working title) is being produced by Big Talk Productions, the company behind Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner and BBC Three sitcom Him & Her.
Big Talk Productions CEO Kenton Allen says: "We're thrilled to be bringing Tom MacRae's eye-poppingly fresh and fiercely funny comedy to Comedy Central. Jill Offman and Pete Thornton have amazing ambitions for the channel and we're delighted that Big Talk will be the first UK producers to make a show that sits alongside their first class line-up of US hit series like 30 Rock, South Park and Sex and the City."
This is expected to the first of a number of new home-grown commissions from Comedy Central, as the network invests in more home-grown comedy series to sit alongside its American imports. At present, the channel's only current UK commission is Olivia Lee's hidden camera prank show, which it is currently broadcasting on Monday nights.
Pete Thornton, the channel commissioner, added: "This new commission represents a big step forward for the channel, and we're very excited to be setting out on this journey with Tom MacRae's distinctive, bold and highly original scripts. We are delighted to be working with the hugely talented team at Big Talk, one of the brightest and most successful comedy indies in the UK, who have brought to life the UK's most distinctive comedies this year."
Threesome will be filmed this summer for broadcast on Comedy Central in the autumn.
Before 6th April 2009, the station existed as Paramount Comedy, providing early work for Peter Kay, Simon Pegg, Matt Lucas and David Walliams amongst many others. Their most recent sitcom commissions had been Angelo's, Respectable and Suburban Shootout, all with Channel Five.