Cast revealed for new comedy Mae And George
- Filming has started in Manchester on Mae Martin's E4 and Netflix comedy Mae And George
- The cast includes Charlotte Ritchie, Sophie Thompson and Friends star Lisa Kudrow
- Adrian Lukis, Phil Burgers, Ophelia Lovibond, Pippa Haywood and others will also feature
Charlotte Ritchie, Sophie Thompson and Friends star Lisa Kudrow are amongst the cast revealed for Mae Martin's comedy drama Mae And George.
The upcoming E4 / Netflix series is now filming in Manchester.
The six-part semi-autobiographical series sees award-winning Canadian comedian Mae Martin "delve into her own story, which explores love, addiction and where the two intersect".
Written by Martin and Joe Hampson, Mae And George - a working title - follows recovering addict and comedian Mae, who is trying to control the addictive behaviours and intense romanticism that permeate every facet of her life. Life is further complicated by a fresh, all-consuming relationship with her new girlfriend, George.
It has been announced today that Ghosts star Charlotte Ritchie will play George, who is "both the balm to Mae's anxiety and the cause of it".
Lisa Kudrow - who is best known for playing Phoebe in international sitcom smash-hit Friends - has joined the show as Mae's powerful and charismatic mother Linda "who, despite living in Canada, still impacts Mae's life from afar".
Sophie Thompson (Detectorists, Bounty Hunters) will play Maggie, a fellow recovering addict and Mae's confidante.
Charlotte Ritchie says: "It is a total dream to be involved in a show like this. It is so thoughtfully written and full of beautiful details but also makes me laugh so much. I feel so very grateful to be part of it."
Sophie Thompson comments: "I wanted this job so much after reading the scripts - to me they were so funny, scorchingly honest and profoundly human. When I got the job - I literally did a jig of deep glee. Mae amazes me, and so does Joe - to be a part of something so original is such a genuine joy."
Lisa Kudrow adds: "I'm thrilled to be playing Linda but I first fell in love with Mae and the scripts she and Joe wrote. It's sweet and very funny and awkward and well observed."
Adrian Lukis (The Crown) will play Mae's romantic English father, whilst Philip Burgers - known on the live circuit as Doctor Brown - plays Mae and George's enigmatic flatmate, Phil.
Also starring in the series are Ophelia Lovibond (W1A), Tom Durant-Pritchard (The Crown) and Al Roberts (Stath Lets Flats) as George's friends Binky, Hugh and Jared; Pippa Haywood (Green Wing) as George's mum, Felicity; and Ritu Arya (Humans) as Maggie's estranged daughter, Lava.
Completing the cast are Tobi Bamtefa (Tin Star), Steen Raskopoulos (Top Coppers) and Jack Barry (Turn Up Charlie) as Mae's stand-up cohorts, whilst her addicts anonymous support comes in the form of Ramon Tikaram (Flowers), Sindhu Vee (Live At The Apollo), Rosalind March (Jonathan Creek) and Tom Andrews (Plebs).
Mae And George will air exclusively on E4 in the UK and will be available globally, excluding the UK, on Netflix.
Mae's first non-fiction book, Can Everyone Please Calm Down? Mae Martin's Guide To 21st Century Sexuality will be released on 16th May.