Inbetweeners stars pen new sitcom for Channel 4

29 October 2010

Channel 4 Commissioning Editor Nerys Evans has commissioned an original sitcom written by Inbetweeners actors Simon Bird, Joe Thomas and their comedy partner Jonny Sweet (When Boris Met Dave) to air in 2011 as part of Channel 4's Comedy Showcase.

As well as writing the script, Bird, Thomas and Sweet will star in Chickens (w/t), a situation comedy set in First World War Britain.

As the Great War rages, the brave and bold menfolk are fighting the good fight on foreign soil. But in one sleepy English village three young men remain:

George is a conscientious objector, Ivor would love to be fighting for queen and country but his flat feet mean the army won't have him - and then there's Herb, a philandering scaredicat on the run from the draft who persists in hanging round with them.

In the eyes of their neighbours they're all the same. They're chickens. So in a world of women (who they fancy), children and the infirm these twenty-something chaps have only each other for company - and nothing else in common.

The women of the village are bound to treat them with the contempt they deserve - any man worth their salt should be doing their duty for the war effort abroad. But with pretty much every other man away, can George, Ivor and Herb claw themselves back into the good books of the ladies on the home front?

Chickens (w/t) is a sitcom about three young guys in a women's world, not being useful, not being proper men, not contributing to their country - but trying to make the best of it, trying to be helpful, trying to enjoy themselves...and above all, trying not to be rubbish.

It's a quirky triple-handed single-camera coming-of-age period British comedy like no other.

Chickens (w/t) was commissioned by Channel 4 Comedy Commissioning Editor Nerys Evans, and will be produced by Kenton Allen at Big Talk Productions.

Nerys Evans said,
"Some fantastic shows have graced our Comedy Showcase since we launched it in 2007, to coincide with the channel's 25th anniversary. Three years on, we are commissioning our third run and we're delighted that the prodigiously talented Simon, Joe and Jonny are going to be a part of it."

Simon Bird said:
"We're really excited to be working with Channel 4 on our first sitcom. It's a dream come true for us and we can't wait to get started."

Kenton Allen, Chief Executive of Big Talk Productions said,
"I've seen the future of comedy, and I'm afraid to say it's Simon, Joe and Jonny shaped. They are a delight to work with, have razor sharp comedy minds and Chickens (w/t) promises to be very special indeed."

Simon Bird and Joe Thomas are best known for their outstanding performances in the multi award-winning E4 comedy The Inbetweeners. Together with Jonny Sweet (Edinburgh Comedy Award-winner for Best Newcomer 2009) they are the sketch group The House of Windsor; their Edinburgh shows have garnered five-star reviews and large audiences. Chickens (w/t) is their first TV creation.

Channel 4's Comedy Showcase will return for its third outing in 2011, with six brand new scripted comedy singles from some of the best new and established comedy talent in the UK. Chickens (w/t) is the first single to be announced from the run, with future announcements to follow in 2011.

Notes to Editors: Big Talk
Big Talk is one of the UK's leading film and television production companies, with an impeccable track record in developing breakthrough talent, such as Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright. Their cult television series Spaced paved the way for the hit films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

In 2008 former BBC Creative Head Of Comedy Kenton Allen (Rev., The Royle Family and the Oscar-winning Six Shooter) joined as Chief Executive together with a simultaneous strategic investment from BBC Worldwide. Big Talk now has a dynamic slate of original TV comedy and drama with all the major UK broadcasters and continues to attract exceptional talent. Simon Curtis (Cranford, Five Days), Robert Popper (Peep Show, Look Around You) and Luke Alkin (Former Head of Channel 4 Drama) are all part of the core creative team.

This year their two new six-part comedies were broadcast to record audiences and with critical acclaim: Rev. (BBC Two), starring Tom Hollander, and Him & Her (BBC Three) starring Russell Tovey. They are currently shooting the six-part sitcom Friday Night Dinner for Channel 4. It is written and produced by Robert Popper, directed by Steve Bendelack (The League of Gentlemen, Little Britain) and stars Tamsin Greig, Simon Bird, Paul Ritter and Tom Rosenthal.

In film, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, starring Michael Cera and directed by Edgar Wright, was released this summer and has been hailed as a ‘modern masterpiece'. Forthcoming films include Paul, starring Simon Pegg & Nick Frost and directed by Greg Mottola and Attack the Block, written and directed by Joe Cornish.

BBC Worldwide will handle international distribution of Chickens (w/t).

Channel 4 Commissioning Editor Nerys Evans has commissioned an original sitcom written by Inbetweeners actors Simon Bird, Joe Thomas and their comedy partner Jonny Sweet (When Boris Met Dave) to air in 2011 as part of Channel 4's Comedy Showcase.

As well as writing the script, Bird, Thomas and Sweet will star in Chickens (w/t), a situation comedy set in First World War Britain.

As the Great War rages, the brave and bold menfolk are fighting the good fight on foreign soil. But in one sleepy English village three young men remain:

George is a conscientious objector, Ivor would love to be fighting for queen and country but his flat feet mean the army won't have him - and then there's Herb, a philandering scaredicat on the run from the draft who persists in hanging round with them.

In the eyes of their neighbours they're all the same. They're chickens. So in a world of women (who they fancy), children and the infirm these twenty-something chaps have only each other for company - and nothing else in common.

The women of the village are bound to treat them with the contempt they deserve - any man worth their salt should be doing their duty for the war effort abroad. But with pretty much every other man away, can George, Ivor and Herb claw themselves back into the good books of the ladies on the home front?

Chickens (w/t) is a sitcom about three young guys in a women's world, not being useful, not being proper men, not contributing to their country - but trying to make the best of it, trying to be helpful, trying to enjoy themselves...and above all, trying not to be rubbish.

It's a quirky triple-handed single-camera coming-of-age period British comedy like no other.

Chickens (w/t) was commissioned by Channel 4 Comedy Commissioning Editor Nerys Evans, and will be produced by Kenton Allen at Big Talk Productions.

Nerys Evans said,
"Some fantastic shows have graced our Comedy Showcase since we launched it in 2007, to coincide with the channel's 25th anniversary. Three years on, we are commissioning our third run and we're delighted that the prodigiously talented Simon, Joe and Jonny are going to be a part of it."

Simon Bird said:
"We're really excited to be working with Channel 4 on our first sitcom. It's a dream come true for us and we can't wait to get started."

Kenton Allen, Chief Executive of Big Talk Productions said,
"I've seen the future of comedy, and I'm afraid to say it's Simon, Joe and Jonny shaped. They are a delight to work with, have razor sharp comedy minds and Chickens (w/t) promises to be very special indeed."

Simon Bird and Joe Thomas are best known for their outstanding performances in the multi award-winning E4 comedy The Inbetweeners. Together with Jonny Sweet (Edinburgh Comedy Award-winner for Best Newcomer 2009) they are the sketch group The House of Windsor; their Edinburgh shows have garnered five-star reviews and large audiences. Chickens (w/t) is their first TV creation.

Channel 4's Comedy Showcase will return for its third outing in 2011, with six brand new scripted comedy singles from some of the best new and established comedy talent in the UK. Chickens (w/t) is the first single to be announced from the run, with future announcements to follow in 2011.

Notes to Editors: Big Talk
Big Talk is one of the UK's leading film and television production companies, with an impeccable track record in developing breakthrough talent, such as Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright. Their cult television series Spaced paved the way for the hit films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

In 2008 former BBC Creative Head Of Comedy Kenton Allen (Rev., The Royle Family and the Oscar-winning Six Shooter) joined as Chief Executive together with a simultaneous strategic investment from BBC Worldwide. Big Talk now has a dynamic slate of original TV comedy and drama with all the major UK broadcasters and continues to attract exceptional talent. Simon Curtis (Cranford, Five Days), Robert Popper (Peep Show, Look Around You) and Luke Alkin (Former Head of Channel 4 Drama) are all part of the core creative team.

This year their two new six-part comedies were broadcast to record audiences and with critical acclaim: Rev. (BBC Two), starring Tom Hollander, and Him & Her (BBC Three) starring Russell Tovey. They are currently shooting the six-part sitcom Friday Night Dinner for Channel 4. It is written and produced by Robert Popper, directed by Steve Bendelack (The League of Gentlemen, Little Britain) and stars Tamsin Greig, Simon Bird, Paul Ritter and Tom Rosenthal.

In film, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, starring Michael Cera and directed by Edgar Wright, was released this summer and has been hailed as a ‘modern masterpiece'. Forthcoming films include Paul, starring Simon Pegg & Nick Frost and directed by Greg Mottola and Attack the Block, written and directed by Joe Cornish.

BBC Worldwide will handle international distribution of Chickens (w/t).

Channel 4 Commissioning Editor Nerys Evans has commissioned an original sitcom written by Inbetweeners actors Simon Bird, Joe Thomas and their comedy partner Jonny Sweet (When Boris Met Dave) to air in 2011 as part of Channel 4's Comedy Showcase.

As well as writing the script, Bird, Thomas and Sweet will star in Chickens (w/t), a situation comedy set in First World War Britain.

As the Great War rages, the brave and bold menfolk are fighting the good fight on foreign soil. But in one sleepy English village three young men remain:

George is a conscientious objector, Ivor would love to be fighting for queen and country but his flat feet mean the army won't have him - and then there's Herb, a philandering scaredicat on the run from the draft who persists in hanging round with them.

In the eyes of their neighbours they're all the same. They're chickens. So in a world of women (who they fancy), children and the infirm these twenty-something chaps have only each other for company - and nothing else in common.

The women of the village are bound to treat them with the contempt they deserve - any man worth their salt should be doing their duty for the war effort abroad. But with pretty much every other man away, can George, Ivor and Herb claw themselves back into the good books of the ladies on the home front?

Chickens (w/t) is a sitcom about three young guys in a women's world, not being useful, not being proper men, not contributing to their country - but trying to make the best of it, trying to be helpful, trying to enjoy themselves...and above all, trying not to be rubbish.

It's a quirky triple-handed single-camera coming-of-age period British comedy like no other.

Chickens (w/t) was commissioned by Channel 4 Comedy Commissioning Editor Nerys Evans, and will be produced by Kenton Allen at Big Talk Productions.

Nerys Evans said,
"Some fantastic shows have graced our Comedy Showcase since we launched it in 2007, to coincide with the channel's 25th anniversary. Three years on, we are commissioning our third run and we're delighted that the prodigiously talented Simon, Joe and Jonny are going to be a part of it."

Simon Bird said:
"We're really excited to be working with Channel 4 on our first sitcom. It's a dream come true for us and we can't wait to get started."

Kenton Allen, Chief Executive of Big Talk Productions said,
"I've seen the future of comedy, and I'm afraid to say it's Simon, Joe and Jonny shaped. They are a delight to work with, have razor sharp comedy minds and Chickens (w/t) promises to be very special indeed."

Simon Bird and Joe Thomas are best known for their outstanding performances in the multi award-winning E4 comedy The Inbetweeners. Together with Jonny Sweet (Edinburgh Comedy Award-winner for Best Newcomer 2009) they are the sketch group The House of Windsor; their Edinburgh shows have garnered five-star reviews and large audiences. Chickens (w/t) is their first TV creation.

Channel 4's Comedy Showcase will return for its third outing in 2011, with six brand new scripted comedy singles from some of the best new and established comedy talent in the UK. Chickens (w/t) is the first single to be announced from the run, with future announcements to follow in 2011.

Notes to Editors: Big Talk
Big Talk is one of the UK's leading film and television production companies, with an impeccable track record in developing breakthrough talent, such as Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright. Their cult television series Spaced paved the way for the hit films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

In 2008 former BBC Creative Head Of Comedy Kenton Allen (Rev., The Royle Family and the Oscar-winning Six Shooter) joined as Chief Executive together with a simultaneous strategic investment from BBC Worldwide. Big Talk now has a dynamic slate of original TV comedy and drama with all the major UK broadcasters and continues to attract exceptional talent. Simon Curtis (Cranford, Five Days), Robert Popper (Peep Show, Look Around You) and Luke Alkin (Former Head of Channel 4 Drama) are all part of the core creative team.

This year their two new six-part comedies were broadcast to record audiences and with critical acclaim: Rev. (BBC Two), starring Tom Hollander, and Him & Her (BBC Three) starring Russell Tovey. They are currently shooting the six-part sitcom Friday Night Dinner for Channel 4. It is written and produced by Robert Popper, directed by Steve Bendelack (The League of Gentlemen, Little Britain) and stars Tamsin Greig, Simon Bird, Paul Ritter and Tom Rosenthal.

In film, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, starring Michael Cera and directed by Edgar Wright, was released this summer and has been hailed as a ‘modern masterpiece'. Forthcoming films include Paul, starring Simon Pegg & Nick Frost and directed by Greg Mottola and Attack the Block, written and directed by Joe Cornish.

BBC Worldwide will handle international distribution of Chickens (w/t).