Simon Bird stars in apocalyptic Channel 4 sitcom Everyone Else Burns
- Channel 4 has ordered Everyone Else Burns, starring Simon Bird as the head of a family risking eternal damnation
- The sitcom's cast also includes Lolly Adefope, Morgana Robinson, Liam Williams, Seb Cardinal, Al Roberts, Kadiff Kirwan, Lloyd Griffith and Kath Hughes
- Filming is underway on the six-part comedy, which explores life and temptation in a hyper-religious community in Manchester
Simon Bird is to star in an apocalyptic sitcom for Channel 4 about a family dedicated to a puritanical Christian sect, British Comedy Guide can exclusively reveal.
Co-starring Landscapers' Kate O'Flynn, Everyone Else Burns features an ensemble cast full of recognisable comedy talent, including Lolly Adefope, Morgana Robinson, Liam Williams, Seb Cardinal, Al Roberts, Kadiff Kirwan, Lloyd Griffith and Gein's Family Giftshop's Kath Hughes.
Production is underway in Manchester on the six-part comedy, which is described as "a subversive, authentic and bitingly funny exploration into what it feels like to balance faith, family and identity in a world that could end tomorrow (but probably won't)". Exploring life in a hyper-religious community, how does an idiosyncratic Mancunian family navigating the modern world protect themselves from eternal hellfire?
The Inbetweeners' star Bird is family patriarch David Lewis, fretting about ascending the church ranks to become an elder, while O'Flynn plays his dutiful wife Fiona, ostensibly unlikely to deviate from her own dogmatic moral compass.
Will naïve, 17-year-old daughter Rachel (Amy James-Kelly) be allowed to go to university? And will 12-year-old son Aaron (Harry Connor) ever fend off his secular bullies? All could lead to damnation.
Also featuring Soph Galustian, creator of BBC Three's Peck'Eds, Arsher Ali (Four Lions) and Ali Khan, Everyone Else Burns is the debut television series for former Cambridge Footlights president Dillon Mapletoft, who has served as writing assistant to Armando Iannucci on both series of Sky's sci-fi comedy Avenue 5, and his writing partner, former Footlighter and qualified doctor Oliver Taylor.
Everyone Else Burns is directed by Nick Collett (Ghosts, Maxxx) and produced by Molly Seymour (Peck'Eds) for Jax Media and Universal International Studios. It follows a successful taster pilot shot last year, featuring Bird and James-Kelly, directed by Andrew Gaynord. Executive producers include Jax Media's Tony Hernandez and Brooke Posch.
The series was commissioned for Channel 4 by the channel's head of Comedy, Fiona McDermott and commissioning executive, Laura Riseam, who said: "Jax Media have made some of the most iconic comedy of recent years and we are so delighted to be working with them, Universal International Studios, Oli and Dillon on a project they are so passionate about.
"We can't wait for audiences to enter the pressure cooker of life with the Lewis family as they righteously try and defend the ideology and logic of a life of purity with the vices of the modern world encroaching fast. It's a glorious comedy trap; contemporary, relevant and very funny."
Beatrice Springborn, president of Universal International Studios, added: "Everyone Else Burns is an irreverent, hilarious and heart-warming series from the brilliant creative minds of Dillon and Oliver. We're excited to be partnering with Jax Media and Channel 4 to bring this show to life."
Alongside his acting roles, Bird has a burgeoning career behind the camera. Having directed the third series of Williams's sitcom Pls Like and indie film Days Of The Bagnold Summer, he recently helmed Ellie White and Natasia Demetriou's imminent BBC Three sketch series Ellie & Natasia.