Channel 4 announces seven new Blaps

13 April 2022

The commissions follow on from the success of previous Blap commissions including Stath Lets Flats, Dead Pixels and We Are Lady Parts

Channel 4 is releasing seven new Blaps on All 4, the most ever released in one go, featuring up-and-coming as well as established talent, including Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Jamie Demetriou and Rosie Jones.

Channel 4’s Blaps have historically been a breeding ground for several series commissions, including We Are Lady Parts, recently commissioned for a second series on Channel 4, Stath Lets Flats, Home and Dead Pixels (E4).

Billi: Billi, an egomaniac with a self-proclaimed ‘heart of gold’, tells the brave and gritty story of just what a twenty-five-year-old brat will go through in order to get a half-head of highlights. 

Filmed in such a way that we only ever see him, it’s a narcissist’s (aka Billi's) dream.

Billi will be the first piece written and performed by Harry Trevaldwyn for television. 

Billi is written by and starring Harry Trevaldwyn. The Director is Ben Palmer, the Producer is Alexander Handschuh. The Executive Producers are Kenton Allen, Matthew Justice, Caroline Leddy and Robert Popper. Billi was commissioned by Laura Riseam.

Biscuitland: Biscuitland is the extraordinary everyday world that Jess (Jess Thom) creates and shares with everyone around her. Jess’s Tourettes Syndrome and her surreal tics transform and inform her experience of life, work, friendship, and family. Unexpected hedgehogs, surprising geraniums, and an abundance of biscuits are all part of Jess’s life as she encounters the constant challenges of a world that routinely excludes disabled people.

Biscuitland is rude, unexpected, challenging, and authentic, a day in the life of someone whose unusual neurology has ideas of its own - funny, surprising, and unfiltered in every way.  

Written by Christine Robertson (Buffering, Trollied) with Jess Thom and Matthew Pountney. Biscuitland is produced by Jon Rolph for Fremantle and North Bridge Media. It was commissioned by Laura Riseam.

Disability Benefits: Having been made redundant, and with her state benefits cut to shreds, a young woman with very little left to lose begins to build an illegal drugs empire. But Rosie Dawkins isn’t your average street-dealing dope peddler – she’s sharp, funny, biting – and, on top of all that, she has cerebral palsy.

People have underestimated Rosie her entire life; if they’re not patronizing her for completing the most menial of tasks, they’re pretending she’s not even there. What better disguise could there be for criminal activity than being written off by the same system that exists to protect the law?

Starring Rosie Jones as Rosie and featuring Ryan McParland, Guy Rhys, Angela Griffin, Lynn Hunter, Mark Monero and Will Brown. Disability Benefits was written by Rosie Jones and Peter Fellows, directed by Sophie King and produced by Charlie Laurie. The Executive Producers for Merman were Clelia Mountford & Sharon Horgan; the Executive Producers for 2LE were Tom Thostrup & Michael Livingstone. Disability Benefits was commissioned by Laura Riseam.

Late Night Forever! with Jordan Brookes: Jordan Brookes is presenting the chat show of his nightmares. Literally. Stuck in a coma after a mysterious accident, he finds himself hosting a psychedelic talk show live from his own subconscious. And every time he makes it to the credits, another episode begins.

Jordan is convinced that if he can just put on a good show, he will wake up. Yet he can’t seem to control the parade of disco dancing intrusive thoughts and personified past traumas which interrupt every episode. Can he face down his demons and make it back to reality? Or will he be interviewing Debbie McGee for all eternity?

Late Night Forever! with Jordan Brookes is a Hat Trick production. It was written by Jordan Brookes and directed by duo Rosco 5 (Gideon Beresford & Behnam Taheri). It stars Jordan Brookes, Sunil Patel, Amy Gledhill and very special guest Debbie McGee. It was co-written and produced by Zoë Tomalin, and the Executive Producer is Stu Mather. It was commissioned by Joe Hullait.

Red Flag: Red Flag is an exciting new sketch show from the brilliant comedy mind of Kiell Smith-Bynoe. 

Starring Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Red Flag is a fast-paced and ridiculous free fall into a wide range of sketchy situations. It’s fun, dumb and discombobulating. It reflects the modern world we live in but not quite the way you’d imagine. We meet various heroes - all played by Smith-Bynoe - who walk wrong and strong into chaos. Red Flag is populated with an ensemble cast made up of the comedy scene’s best and brightest stars. Writing comes from Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Kayode Ewumi, Jamie Demetriou, Sam Campbell, Adam Hess and Stevie Martin. 

A Baby Cow production, Red Flag was created by and stars Kiell Smith-Bynoe. Cast includes Jamie Demetriou, Ben Ashenden, Kemah Bob, Kevin Garry, Emily Lloyd-Saini, Emma Sidi, Tom Stourton and Jason York. It was produced by Maisah Thompson, directed by Big Red Button and executive produced by Rupert Majendie. Red Flag was commissioned by Joe Hullait.

Unfair: Culture clash comedy Unfair is the story of clueless student Sorcha who leaves her leafy home for a life on a showman’s yard with boyfriend, Bentley. Sorcha is desperate to fit in with his family, but knowing nothing of fairground life, doesn't realise she's in for a rollercoaster ride.

Written by Emma Lennox, Unfair is directed by Meg Campbell, executive produced by Chris Young, and supported by Creative Scotland. It was produced by Carolynne Sinclair Kidd. The production company is Young Films. It was commissioned by Laura Riseam.

William of Orangedale: William of Orangedale is a coming-of-age comedy about teenager William and his friends growing up on a council estate in East Belfast and the shenanigans that they get up to. Your teenage years can be complicated but for William he must juggle all these dramas while living with cerebral palsy.

Developed by Hat Trick (Derry Girls, Episodes, Kate & Koji and Father Ted), William of Orangedale delves into a side of Northern Ireland never seen on screen before. Inspired by the life of comedian William Thompson who co-wrote the script alongside fellow comedian Dave Elliott, William of Orangedale is an uplifting tale about friendship, family and making the best of your lot!

William of Orangedale is directed by Eoin Cleland, produced by Anna Hinds and executive produced by Louise Gallagher and Jimmy Mulville for Hat Trick Productions.  It was commissioned by Joe Hullait.

Co-Commissioning Executives for Channel 4 Laura Riseam and Joe Hullait said: “After a world pandemic enforced hiatus, we are so delighted for Blaps to be back bigger, bolder and better than ever before. With seven brand new shorts, this bumper crop is showcasing exciting new talent on and off screen and delivering stories from previously unheard voices. We were overwhelmed by the reception to our brief and can’t wait for everyone to get their peepers on this round of Blaps.

Series including We Are Lady Parts, Chewing Gum, Stath Lets Flats and Dead Pixels all originated as Blaps, so they are following in the footsteps of some fantastic hits! This new set of Blaps is building on these successes and represent more potential shows for Channel 4.”

You can watch our Blaps on All 4 for free here:

www.all4.com/comedyblaps

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnU9iq6kGBE2g97dh-YD2D7Kih83P1GY

The collection of Blaps will be released on All 4 on Friday 6th May, with Biscuitland set to be released later in the year.

-ENDS-