Rufus Hound joins Russell T Davies' new drama series

18 July 2014

Comedian RUFUS HOUND (Hounded, The Wedding Video) is joining the cast of Channel 4’s new series Cucumber, an ambitious new drama from the multi BAFTA award-winning writer of Queer As Folk and Doctor Who, Russell T Davies.

Hound joins the hotly anticipated eight-part series as Rupert, a man in hot pursuit of Henry (Vincent Franklin) - but as their date gets stranger and stranger, the night ends in very unexpected ways.

Also joining the cast of Cucumber is ARDAL O’HANLON (Father Ted, London Irish) and ADJOA ANDOH (Law and Order: UK, Doctor Who). O’Hanlon plays Brian, who goes out on a date with Cleo, only to find the evening unravelling into old secrets and long-buried truths. Andoh joins as Lance’s sister Marie – a strong, outspoken professional, who thinks her brother’s boyfriend just isn’t good enough for him.

In Russell T Davies’ companion E4 series Banana, BAFTA-nominated LUKE NEWBERRY (In the Flesh, Lightfields) plays Josh, a young law student who finds the past hard to escape, when he has to go home and face his old friend from school.

Also joining Banana is DINO FETSCHER who takes on his first TV role as Aiden - a handsome, confident young man, who unexpectedly finds himself stuck with the lovelorn Frank for the day. But Frank will challenge everything Aiden thinks about gay life, right to the core.

Both Aiden and Josh first appear in Cucumber with their in-depth stories detailed in individual episodes of Banana.

Filming in Manchester is currently underway on Cucumber (8 x 60’) and Banana (8 x 30’). Previously announced cast include; JULIE HESMONDHALGH (Coronation Street), CYRIL NRI (The Bill), FREDDIE FOX (Parade’s End), FISAYO AKINADE (Fresh Meat), CON O`NEILL (Uncle), JAMES MURRAY (Primeval) and CEALLACH SPELLMAN (Waterloo Road).

Cucumber tells the story of 46 year old Henry (Vincent Franklin) and his boyfriend Lance (Cyril Nri) whose comfortable and settled existence is shattered after the most disastrous date night in history - involving a threesome, two police cars, and Bony M - and Henry’s new life begins.

With the same ferocious wit, startling honesty and heartfelt warmth that made Queer As Folk a landmark Channel 4 series, Cucumber will explore the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life for Henry, Lance and co, while on E4, Banana will follow the individual lives of characters orbiting around Henry’s world. On 4oD, Tofu will be an anarchic and entertaining factual series about sex - from gay to straight, and anything in between - inspired by the dramas each week.

Cucumber, Banana and Tofu were commissioned by Channel 4 Head of Drama Piers Wenger and are being made by RED Production Company with Executive Producers Nicola Shindler, Julie Gardner and Russell T Davies. Tofu is being made Benjamin Cook (Becoming YouTube).

Cucumber is written by Russell T Davies and produced by Matt Strevens, with directors; David Evans, Alice Troughton and Euros Lyn. Banana is produced by Emily Feller.

Cucumber was originally developed by BBC Worldwide Productions. BBC Worldwide will distribute the drama internationally.