My Sexual Abuse: The Sitcom and My Sexual Abuse: The Sitcom (The Actual Sitcom)

16 May 2024

This bold and moving documentary from award-winning producers Swan Films follows writer and comedian Mark O’Sullivan (Lee and Dean, Tell Me Everything) as he writes and directs a sitcom about the sexual abuse he survived as a child, and the court case that led to the conviction of the man who abused him. 

Charting the writing, rehearsals and eventual filming of the 80s-style family sitcom in front of a studio audience, the documentary explores why Mark has chosen to deal with his abuse in this way.  He asks whether comedy really can be used to confront some of the worst parts of the human experience.  

As the sitcom begins to take shape with an all-star cast including Cariad Lloyd, Rufus Jones, Ellie Taylor and Sam Underwood, Mark reveals his daring decision to play a 12-year-old version of himself, and the unusual portrayal of the paedophile. 

In order to make the sitcom Mark delves into his past, meeting a range of people who help him understand what he went through as a child, from a friend of his late parents, to a psychotherapist, and his wife Jenny.  

Through these encounters Mark also examines what happened when, as an adult, he revealed the abuse to his family, the court case that took place when Mark was in his thirties, and the ways that being a survivor of abuse continue to shape his life and mental health.  

With his comedy partner and best friend, Miles Chapman, Mark weighs up the role of humour in dealing with trauma, and with fellow abuse survivor, broadcaster and comedian-turned counsellor, Iain Lee, Mark is challenged about what he’s doing and why. 

Culminating in the studio recording of the sitcom in front of an audience, the documentary builds into an audacious, heartfelt and, at times, funny exploration of the effects of childhood sexual abuse, and the redemptive power of creativity.  

Mark O’Sullivan said: “Making something positive out of the trauma I went through as a child really feels like the best - the only - way for me to deal with it. Being given the opportunity to drag what happened to me out into daylight, where it’s not nearly as powerful and destructive as it was when hidden, has helped me so much. I really hope it helps others, and allows more people to talk about something which, understandably, we often don’t want to confront. This has been a hard but incredibly worthwhile journey, and I’m so grateful to Channel 4 for the opportunity, and to Joe and Neil at Swan Films for their compassion, sensitivity, and vision.” 

Head of Specialist Factual Shaminder Nahal, who commissioned the film said: “I’d like to give huge thanks to Mark O’Sullivan and Swan Films for making such a beautiful, heart-rending and innovative film about such difficult and personal subject matter. I’m convinced it will help so many people, and it makes us all think about these unbelievably complex issues in new, searching and surprising ways.”   

Joe Evans, Producer/Director and MD of Swan Films said: “It’s been an incredible privilege to work with Mark O’Sullivan on a project in which he’s laid his soul bare, and found a strikingly original way – both through his comedy, and his extraordinary testimony in the documentary – to express the complex impact that childhood sexual abuse has had on him.” 

Cariad Lloyd continued: “Mark writing and confronting his trauma through comedy has been at times, heart-breaking, but mostly a life affirming process, to see creativity allow a new narrative to be written” 

My Sexual Abuse: The Sitcom 

Producer/Director is Joe Evans 

Comedy written and directed by Mark O’Sullivan 

Film Editor is William Grayburn 

Executive Producer is Neil Crombie 

Production Company is Swan Films 

My Sexual Abuse: The Sitcom (The Actual Sitcom) 

Sitcom written and directed by Mark O’Sullivan 

Sitcom cast is Mark O’Sullivan, Cariad Lloyd (Peep Show, Murder in Successville, Out of Her Mind), Rufus Jones (Camping, W1A), Ellie Taylor (Ted Lasso, The Mash Report) and Sam Underwood (Lee and Dean) 

Script Editor is Holly Walsh (Motherland, The Other One)  

Production Company is Swan Films 

The documentary will transmit on Channel 4, with the full sitcom available to view on Channel4.com 

Mark O’Sullivan biography 

Mark is a writer, director, actor and producer. His original drama series TELL ME EVERYTHING (Noho Film & TV/ ITVX) is in production for a second season after a successful first series. 

He co-created, wrote, executive produced, and directed the sit-com LEE AND DEAN, which was produced by Mark and Miles Chapman’s indie Bingo Productions for Channel 4. Mark is most known for playing ‘Dean’ in LEE AND DEAN but has also had roles in TELL ME EVERYTHING, THE NEVERS and the BBC’s THE JAVONE PRINCE SHOW 

Mark is currently developing a new original drama series with The Forge and is co-writing a comedy series for Big Talk. Mark is also developing MAKING LEMONADE – a project to build upon and share  the process of creating something positive from trauma he experienced making this documentary and sitcom. The first stage of MAKING LEMONADE will include podcasts, a book, workshops and talks.