Greg Davies pens Channel 4 sitcom pilot
Greg Davies, the comedian and actor best known for his role as Head of Sixth Form Mr Gilbert in E4 sitcom The Inbetweeners, has penned his own sitcom pilot for Channel 4, it has been revealed.
Man Down is likely to draw from Davies' own experiences as an English and drama teacher before beginning his comedy career, and will see the 6ft 8" Welsh comic star as Dan, a teacher who loathes his job, and can't even remember applying.
Channel 4 comedy commissioner Nerys Evans said today: "Greg is in more ways than one a giant of British comedy. He has managed to write a joyfully funny, laugh-out-loud script. We're thrilled to be working with him on his first solo piece."
However, Man Down will not be Greg Davies' first foray into writing a school-based sitcom. Alongside Chris Corcoran, he has written and starred in three series of BBC Radio Wales' Those That Can't, set in a comprehensive secondary school deep in the Welsh valleys.
The pilot, set to feature a number of big-name comedy stars, is being directed by Psychoville and This Is Jinsy alumnus Matt Lipsey, and produced by Charlie Hanson, whose credits include Birds Of A Feather, Life's Too Short, and Not Going Out. It will be produced by the production arm of Davies' agents, Avalon Television.
After selling out his multiple-times-extended tour Firing Cheeseballs At A Dog during 2010 and 2011, Davies will be back on the road from this autumn with new show The Back Of My Mum's Head.