Channel 4 Comedy Announces Four Brand New Blaps

9 February 2017

How to Life

The 3-part How to Life explores what might happen if one egotistical know-it-all turned his bizarre, everyday life-experiences into a series of spontaneous and, some might say, idiotic “How To” lessons. Comedian Ryan Shelton (Rove, The Wrong Girl, Hamish & Andy’s Gap Year) stars as the host and protagonist in How To Life, a fast moving hybrid of narrative, sketch and surrealism that follows Ryan as he turns his unusual, everyday life experiences into even unusualer life lessons (How to Lie, How to French Kiss and How to Escape Boring Conversations). Joining Ryan Shelton in his surreal world is Hamish Blake as Ryan’s semi-identical twin brother and Gina Riley as his mother/nemesis. Also featuring are Amber Clayton, Georgina Naidu and Pia Miranda.

The Educatoror

A fast-paced, naturalistic 3-part comedy series set at a tough, inner city London girls school written by, starring and directed by Paul G Raymond and Luke Manning. Vicki Pepperdine and Jessica Knappet also featuring in the cast. The Educatoror of the title is Arun Jason, an Oxbridge-educated teacher. He’s sensitive, artistically high-minded, and thinks he’s Robin Williams in Dead Poet’s Society. He leaves his cushy post at a privileged private school, and takes on a new role at a tough, inner-city London school in Tower Hamlets. Overconfident bordering on smug, Arun quickly realises he is out of his depth; the teenage girls at this school are like nothing he’s ever dealt with before…

The Reunion

"Class of 2007, assemble! It’s been a momentous decade since you left St Peter’s school. There have been a few births, a few deaths and all the toilets are now fully working (no solids). So now, as the school celebrates its centenary, we welcome you all back in the same room. What could possibly go wrong…?" The Reunion is a 3-part comedy set over one extraordinary night at a school reunion written by and starring the award-winning duo, Max Oleskar & Ivan Gonzalez.

We Are Family

According to Susie Conway, “the family that roasts together is the most together”. A picture-perfect family, the Conways shot to fame through their hugely popular family dining website. As they clocked up the hits the offers flooded in and Conway’s Cook Books, Conway’s Ready Meals, and an Organic shop followed suit. But pretty soon the perfect family had become a fame-hungry, cynical, money-grabbing bunch of hypocrites. But who cares? Provided they can keep up the charade of a happy and successful family, the all-important cash-cow brand will remain intact… The 11 minute one-off stars Amanda Abbington, Bebe Cave, Laura Checkley, Tom Goodman-Hill and Antonia Thomas and is written by Will Smith.

All four blaps are available to watch from 9th February on All 4 http://www.channel4.com/programmes/comedy-blaps. The episodes are also available to watch on the Blaps playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnU9iq6kGBE2g97dh-YD2D7Kih83P1GY)

A bit about Blaps:

From comedy virgins to established comedy writers and performers, anyone can have their five minutes of fun trying out fresh new ideas that may one day make it to a series commission. E4 commissioned two series of former Blaps, the BAFTA-winning Chewing Gum by Michaela Coel and Bad Robots. The new forthcoming comedy Gameface from Roisin Connaty began life as a Comedy Blap as well. Other Blaps alumni (‘Blapees’?) include Marc Wooten, Claudia Doherty, Nick Helm, Sam Simmons, David Earl and many more.

Nerys Evans, deputy head of Channel 4 comedy, said: “Blaps are a really exciting opportunity to work with a variety of talented new writers, directors and actors. And the series has a great track record of being the birthplace of many series commissions also. C4’s Comedy Blaps are always innovative, varied and surprising, and this new batch is crammed with brilliant new talent and fresh ideas. It’s hugely rewarding to give people either their first break with a broadcaster or the opportunity to work up their passion projects to sell their vision. It also allows us to give people a huge amount of creative freedom and that has resulted in some fantastically funny projects starting life.

Submissions for the next wave of Blaps re-open in Summer 2017.

 

Notes to Editors

 

HOW TO LIFE:

Written by: Ryan Shelton

Starring: Ryan Shelton, Gina Riley, Hamish Blake, Amber Clayton, Georgina Naidu, Pia Miranda, Robyn Hamshere

Directed by: Tim Bartley

Produced by: Laura Waters, Andrea Denholm, Tim Bartley and Ryan Shelton for Radio Karate and Princess Pictures. And from Objective Fiction it is executive produced by Ben Farrell and produced by Kelly McGolpin.

 

THE EDUCATOROR:

Written by: Paul G Raymond & Luke Manning

Starring: Paul G Raymond, Luke Manning, Vicki Pepperdine, Jessica Knappett, Lynne Ekwe, Maia Watkins, Kiran Sonia Sawar, David Webber
Directed by: Paul G Raymond & Luke Manning

Produced by: Matthew Mulot for Spelthorne Community Television Ltd

Executive producers: Andrew Newman & Tim Allsop

 

THE REUNION:

Written by: Max Olesker & Ivan Gonzalez

Starring: Max Olesker & Ivan Gonzalez, Shola Adewusi, Ann Akin, Tom Bell, Anna Crilly, Ben Lambert, Stevie Martin
Directed by: Geoff Posner

Produced by: David Tyler & Geoff Posner for Pozzitive Television Ltd

Executive producers: Jed Leventhall

 

WE ARE FAMILY:

Written by: Will Smith

Starring: Amanda Abbington, Bebe Cave, Laura Checkley, Tom Goodman-Hill, Antonia Thomas

Directed by: Gareth Tunley

Produced by: Mollie Freedman Berthoud for Tiger Aspect Productions

Executive producers: Margot Gavan Duffy, Sophie Clarke-Jervoise & Will Smith

Although initially commissioned as short form web comedy, Blaps are always considered for progression to TV series. Blaps are open to all – as well as taking submissions via production companies, Channel 4 welcomes submissions from individuals as well.

 

Michaela Coel’s BAFTA award-winning E4 series Chewing Gum began its road to TV as a comedy Blap in 2014. The second series aired on E4 recently.

Roisin Conaty wrote and starred in her own Blap in 2014, before creating a TX pilot based on the web series. Her six-part series Gameface will premiere on E4 in later this year.

Hidden camera prank show Bad Robot started life as a Blap before being commissioned for two successful series on E4, alongside its pre-watershed spin off Bad-ish Robots.