Detail confirmed for new James Corden comedy The Wrong Mans
The BBC announced today that it has struck a co-production deal with American television on-demand website Hulu for James Corden's next comedy project: The Wrong Mans.
The project's existence was made public earlier this year, but it is only now that the corporation has confirmed detail of the show and its commission for a full 6x 30-minute series.
Described as a "comedy thriller", the series will see Corden as Phil alongside Mathew Baynton (Horrible Histories) as Sam, a pair of ordinary office workers who find themselves in the middle of a "deadly criminal conspiracy" after Sam answers a ringing phone at the scene of a horrific car crash.
Answering this phone turns Sam's world upside down, as he and Phil soon realise it is up to them to step up and save the day. They are in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong skills. They are 'The Wrong Mans'.
Baynton said today: "James and I dreamt up The Wrong Mans during a break on the set of Gavin And Stacey four years ago. I'm excited to be working with the BBC and Hulu to finally make it a reality."
Executive Producer Mark Freeland adds: "We are trying to do a comedy with explosions, a lot of running about, murder, extortion, friendship and love. I cannot wait. But I'm glad I'm not doing the running about bit."
The series will be written by Baynton, Corden and Tom Basden. Basden is perhaps best known as part of sketch group Cowards, and has also written for The Armstrong & Miller Show, appeared in Star Stories, and currently has his own hit Radio 4 sitcom, Party. He is also co-writer of upcoming ITV2 period sitcom Plebs. Baynton previously wrote for and appeared in Corden's ill-fated sketch show with former comedy partner Mathew Horne, Horne & Corden.
The League of Gentlemen's Jeremy Dyson will script edit the series, and Jim Field Smith (Episodes) has been signed up to produce and direct.
The six episodes will go into production in January 2013 for broadcast later in the year. The currently broadcasting fourth series of The Thick Of It is also a BBC-Hulu co-production.