Mitchell and Webb Back for more Channel 4 comedy

29 April 2016

David Mitchell and Robert Webb have reunited to film Back, a comedy pilot for Channel 4 written by Emmy-award winning writer Simon Blackwell (Veep, In The Loop, Peep Show) directed by Ben Palmer (The Inbetweeners Movie) and produced by Kate Crowther (Cradle To Grave, Raised by Wolves).

Stephen's (Mitchell) father, local legend Laurie Nicholls, has died so Stephen's set to – finally – take over the family's pub. Mum Ellen (Julia Deakin) and sister Cass (Louise Brealey) have no interest in the family business - they're 'creative', with weed to buy and energy-centres to rebalance.

With his dad dead, it's now Stephen’s chance to shine. But when his charming and charismatic former foster-brother Andrew (Webb) turns up out of the blue at Laurie's funeral, Stephen's plans go awry. Andrew is back, and keen to rejoin the closest thing he's ever had to a family.

Simon Blackwell said "It's been a pleasure and a privilege to write for David and Robert again, and very exciting to be surrounded by such a superb cast, director and production team."

Phil Clarke, head of comedy for Channel 4 added "To have Mitchell and Webb and Simon Blackwell working together is a very exciting prospect. It's a unique configuration of some seriously big comedy minds. Simon has written a very funny and clever script with a strong emotional heart that takes Robert Webb and David Mitchell in a new and genuinely intriguing direction."

Kenton Allen, CEO Big Talk Productions added, "Blackwell, Mitchell & Webb are some of the finest comedy minds I've ever encountered, a supergroup of incredibly witty individuals. The show was an absolute pleasure to develop with them and I only hope the audience will laugh as much when they see BACK as I have when spending time with these masters of their craft."

Back is a 1 x 30' comedy pilot commissioned by Phil Clarke, Channel 4's head of comedy and Nerys Evans, Channel 4's deputy head of comedy. It is a That Mitchell & Webb Company production in association with Big Talk Productions, Executive Producers are Kenton Allen, David Mitchell, Robert Webb & Simon Blackwell. International Distribution is with BBC Worldwide.