Danny Dyer to star in Mr Bigstuff as part of Sky's 2023 comedy line-up
- Ryan Sampson and Danny Dyer will play estranged brothers in new Sky series Mr Bigstuff
- One-off festive special Joy To The World will feature Timothy Spall and James Nesbitt as Santa Clauses
- Sky has also released more details on Smothered, Brassic, Intelligence and Dreamland
Sky has commissioned Mr Bigstuff, a series in which Ryan Sampson and Danny Dyer play estranged brothers trying to patch up a sibling rivalry.
The six part series, which is coming to Sky Comedy in 2023, has been written by Brassic star Sampson. The duo previously acted together when Dyer guest starred in a 2013 episode of Plebs.
The premise is described as follows: "The series explores broken families, fragile masculinity and carpet sales. It tells the story of two estranged brothers; Glen (Sampson) a nervy perfectionist striving to live the suburban ideal and Lee (Dyer) an alpha male with a prescription drug addiction and a biscuit tin full of his dad's ashes.
"Glen and his fiancée share a perfect, perfectly mundane life together. Sure, Glen's got crippling erectile dysfunction and Kirsty has a secret shoplifting habit, but they're happy. That is until Lee comes crashing into their lives, whilst on the run from a past that's quickly catching up with him. The trio are forced together: a perfectionist, a fantasist and an anarchist all living under the same roof in an Essex cul-de-sac. It's not long before their 'perfect' lives start to unravel faster than a cheap carpet."
Produced by Sky Studios and Water And Power Productions, the executive producers are Anil Gupta, Jon Mountague, Tom Miller and Sam Myer, with Hayley Sterling producing.
Ryan Sampson says: "As a particularly short gay dude, I'm fascinated by masculinity; by all the ways that we're trying and failing to do it right. Maybe it's because of some unresolved short-man issues. Maybe it's because of that one time in PE when Mr Walker told me to 'stop crying and start being a man, Sampson'. I probably should have gotten therapy, but instead I've written a show about it. It's about fragile masculinity - about men and how fucked up we are. Also about families, and how fucked up they are too. I can't believe how lucky I am in having Danny Dyer himself joining me for the ride."
Danny Dyer comments: "Following my nutty exit from EastEnders I feel like it's time to recalibrate and try something a bit new. When I read the role of Lee I was honoured to be asked to develop an exciting character and explore his dysfunctional fucked up family relationships. I fell in love with Ryan Sampson while working with him on Plebs. I can't wait to get involved with his incredible writing."
Mr Bigstuff is one of a number of scripted comedy shows forming part of Sky's 2023 line-up. The others showcased today are...
Joy To The World
A one-off 90 minute festive special in which Timothy Spall and James Nesbitt play two Santas with very different agendas.
The premise is explained as follows: "Twelve-year-old Mikey Collins, who's dirt-poor and hates Christmas, finds two Santa Clauses in the woods. One has just robbed a bank (James Nesbitt) and is on the run with the cash, the other Santa (Timothy Spall) claims to have fallen out of his sleigh. Mikey has no time for this second guy - he's well past believing any of the Jingle Bells, spirit-of-the-season rubbish, even if his little brother Sean insists on treating the old man like a superstar. Instead, Mikey's determined to get his hands on the bank-robber's cash, convinced that this is the answer to giving his family the Christmas they all crave. But as Mikey risks everything for the loot, he comes to realise that maybe the spirit of Christmas is alive after all...
Timothy Spall says: "I'm delighted to be involved with this unique festive adventure. It's a rare thing that a story has the perfect mixture of social commentary grit, suspense, emotional bite and original comedy, plus a myriad of Santas (one of them possibly the real one)! I'm looking forward to working with Ed Hall and the fabulous team that's being packed up into what promises to be an extremely novel festive pressie!"
Talking about the filming and having worked together with Spall in the 2001 film Lucky Break, James Nesbitt adds: "It is incredibly exciting to be back in Belfast and part of something that is both funny, heartwarming and yet which also holds a mirror up to society. The script lifts your spirits while brilliantly addressing the cost of living crisis affecting so many families in the UK and Ireland right now. It's also a joy to be reunited with my old cell mate Timothy Spall."
Smothered
A romantic comedy first announced by BCG in October. Danielle Vitalis and Jon Pointing star as Sammy and Tom, two strangers who hook up on a night out. They agree to have a no strings attached affair for three weeks - but on the condition that they never speak again. But Sammy soon makes a shocking discovery that there is another woman in Tom's life... his six-year-old daughter Ellie. More plot details
Joining the previously revealed Aisling Bea in the supporting cast will be Rebecca Lucy Taylor (also known as singer Self Esteem), Blair Underwood, Jordan Stephens and Lisa Hammond.
Creator Monica Heisey says: "As a superfan of romantic comedies, it's been a dream come true to get a crack at one myself, especially with such a talented cast and crew."
Brassic Series 5
Returning for eight more episodes this year, the fifth series sees the characters still reeling from the dramatic events of the Series 4 finale. Vinnie and the gang face big repercussions from their entanglements with the dangerous McDonagh brothers and powerful drug buyer Manolito. With both criminal big-wigs now on his case, Vinnie needs to negotiate his exit strategy - and fast. But there's a lot on his mind, especially as he's still trying to figure out what the hell is going on between him and Erin. Can they ever actually be together, and does she really want to share this unhinged and dangerous life with him?
Executive producer David Livingstone comments: "Who can believe it. Series 5. The only way to go on is to be more audacious and more ambitious than ever. Nobody is resting on their laurels. Five will be our best yet. It's classic Brassic."
Intelligence special
As previously revealed by BCG, the sitcom starring David Schwimmer and Nick Mohammed is due to return for a one-off special. Sky says: "They've countered the Russians, they've foiled a plot to disrupt the NHS and they've prevented a nuclear disaster... But in this one-off special, the latest threat to our gang at the Government Communications Headquarters is personal. With the future of CySec at stake, the team have to go rogue to save their reputations and their jobs."
It's been revealed today that Jennifer Saunders will be joining the cast as the character Joanna Telfer-Fotheringham.
Dreamland
Sky has also revealed a first-look trailer for Dreamland, the Sky Atlantic comedy drama series BCG first revealed in June. Focused on the "secrets, lies, loves and aspirations within a family of four sisters", the premise is based on the 2018 BAFTA-winning short of the same name, which was written by Sharon Horgan. Watch the trailer
Sky's Director of Comedy Jon Mountague says: "2023 is going to be a blistering year for comedy on Sky. With returning favourites like Brassic and a crop of box fresh shows, with undeniably dynamic talent, Sky continues to be the home of UK comedy."
These scripted announcements follow on from Sky's entertainment announcements, which include TV-themed panel show pilot On Demand, Series 5 of Rob And Romesh Vs and more episodes of A League Of Their Own.