Gold orders new sitcom The Cockfields
- Gold has ordered The Cockfields, a sitcom about an "oddball family" on the Isle of Wight
- Written by Joe Wilkinson and David Earl, it stars Wilkinson and Diane Morgan as a couple
- The cast also includes Sue Johnston, Bobby Ball, Nigel Havers and Sarah Parish
Gold has ordered The Cockfields, a new sitcom about a family on the Isle of Wight.
The 3-part series will star Joe Wilkinson and Diane Morgan, with Sue Johnston, Bobby Ball, Nigel Havers and Sarah Parish.
Joe Wilkinson and Diane Morgan used to perform together as sketch duo Two Episodes Of Mash (pictured).
The comedy has been written by Wilkinson and David Earl. The pair previously created 2016 Sky One football club sitcom Rovers together, which also starred Morgan and Johnston.
Gold explains: "Wilkinson stars as Simon, who is taking girlfriend Donna (Morgan) back home to the Isle of Wight for the very first time. There they'll spend a long weekend as guests of his ever-doting mother Sue (Johnston) and controlling stepdad Ray (Ball).
"Simon has been persuaded to mark the occasion of his 40th birthday back at the Cockfield family home and there's a fair amount of Isle of Wight 'fun' in store for the pair of them, alongside interruptions from Simon's Alan Titchmarsh-obsessed stepbrother David (Ben Rufus Green) and the Cockfields' oddball handyman neighbour Andre (Jeff Mirza).
"If that wasn't enough, Simon's father Larry (Havers) and his new girlfriend are causing tensions to rise. Can Simon survive a long (very long) birthday weekend with his biological and extended family without losing his cool, or his girlfriend?"
Joe Wilkinson says: "David and I adore writing about this oddball family who, despite their faults and differences, love each other. We can't wait to see our dream cast bring The Cockfields to life."
David Earl adds: "We're both chuffed and incredibly thankful to UKTV for giving us this opportunity to share The Cockfields with the Gold audience. On a personal note, I've had to endure many months staring at Joe Wilkinson's face over Skype whilst writing the scripts - he usually has food in his beard - so, after all that, I bloody hope everyone likes the show."
Yellow Door Productions are making three half-hour episodes of the comedy, with Friday Night Dinner's Steve Bendelack as director. John Rushton produces, with Lucy Lumsden and Lucy Ansbro as executive producers.
Lucy Lumsden says: "I can't wait for the audience to meet The Cockfields, we love working with Joe and David and have been thrilled that their brilliant scripts have attracted such a well-loved cast for Gold."
Commissioner Pete Thornton comments: "Hats off to David and Joe, scripts this good are very hard to come by and they've helped Yellow Door attract an incredible cast for our latest scripted adventure on Gold. The Cockfields is a thoroughly modern family comedy about a relatable shared experience - that weekend back at home when your no doubt well-meaning relatives just get more and more annoying with every passing hour. We're delighted to be working with such a talented team - both in front of and behind the camera - on this charming, beautifully observed three-parter."
Gold's Gerald Casey adds: "We're really excited to be bringing the Gold audience such an authentic, modern and above all else wonderfully funny comedy. The scripts David and Joe have written are a joy and what a great cast too. I can't wait to watch it!"
The Cockfields will air on Gold later this year.