BBC Two orders comedy from disability activist Kyla Harris
- We Might Regret This is a six-part BBC Two comedy from disability activist Kyla Harris, co-starring Sally Phillips and Darren Boyd
- Co-written by Harris with fellow Canadian Lee Getty, the comedy co-stars Elena Saurel, Hugh Coles and Aasiya Shah
- Harris and Getty said: "We are thrilled that Roughcut TV, the BBC and Village Roadshow Television feel that our messiest and most joyous lived experiences of friendship, love and disability can amuse audiences"
The BBC has ordered an autobiographical comedy from disability activist and filmmaker Kyla Harris, co-starring Sally Phillips and Darren Boyd, British Comedy Guide can exclusively reveal.
We Might Regret This was co-created by Harris and her fellow Canadian Lee Getty, formerly known as Shannon Getty. It centres on a new relationship, an impending blended family and an intense female friendship, and is made by Roughcut Television (Stath Lets Flats, People Just Do Nothing) and the Australian production company Village Roadshow Television, making its first foray into British television comedy.
Also starring Buffering's Elena Saurel, Hugh Coles (Defending The Guilty) and Aasiya Shah (Bloods), the six-episode BBC Two comedy follows Freya, played by Harris, a 30-something Canadian artist and tetraplegic. She's moved to London for Abe (Boyd), a 50-something straight-laced lawyer who thinks he's the old dog that can learn new tricks. Freya and Abe's relationship is a high-speed romance which sees Abe inviting Freya to move into his house before she's even seen upstairs.
Because of Freya's disability, living together also includes personal assistants, who are always there - a third person in earshot for every romantic moment and domestic screaming match. After failing to find the right person for this more than intimate role, Freya invites chaotic and impulsive best friend Jo (Saurel) to take the job. What could go wrong?
Harris and Getty told BCG: "We are thrilled that Roughcut TV, the BBC and Village Roadshow Television feel that our messiest and most joyous lived experiences of friendship, love and disability can amuse audiences. And here we just thought they were bad decisions."
The series is produced by Inez Gordon (This Country) and the executive producers for Roughcut are Ash Atalla, Alex Smith and Rebecca Murrell. The commissioning editor for the BBC is Tanya Qureshi.
The BBC has picked up the series following a pilot shot for Channel 4 in London last summer, when the comedy was variously known as We Might Regret This and The Odds.
Harris moved to the UK from Vancouver in 2010 and her and Getty's original script, The Odds: Body Replacement Game, was selected for the 2018 Diversity Film and Script Showcase.
Smith said: "Roughcut is so excited to produce We Might Regret This for the BBC and Village Roadshow Television. There's a unique and highly authored show here, which will engage comedy and drama lovers like nothing before. A production bursting with talent in front and behind the camera, we know we won't regret this."
The BBC's director of comedy commissioning, Jon Petrie added: "Kyla and Lee have created something special, and we look forward to seeing them bring this incredibly personal, funny story to life. Roughcut and Village Roadshow Television will be fantastic partners to go on this journey with."
