{"id":33165,"date":"2023-05-24T18:45:18","date_gmt":"2023-05-24T16:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1835664"},"modified":"2023-05-25T07:46:44","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T05:46:44","slug":"ricky-gervais-and-more-confirmed-for-new-bbc-comedy-shorts","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/ricky-gervais-and-more-confirmed-for-new-bbc-comedy-shorts\/","title":{"rendered":"Ricky Gervais and more confirmed for new BBC Comedy Shorts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gervais, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Mark Bonnar are among those involved with 11 shorts about to drop on BBC iPlayer. <\/p>

By James Hibbs\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 24 May 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

The BBC has announced a series of 11 short comedy films which will debut on BBC iPlayer this Friday (26th May), before airing on BBC Three.<\/p>\n

The films have been created with the involvement of stars such as Ricky Gervais<\/a>, Mark Bonnar<\/a> and Jack Carroll \u2013 with the project intended to give a voice to both new and established talent looking to develop, and showcase exciting concepts centred on originality and experimentation.<\/p>\n

Jon Petrie, the BBC\u2019s director of comedy, said<\/span>: \u201cIt\u2019s been exciting to create a space for comedy<\/span> creatives to flex their funny bones and we\u2019re particularly proud to have given 11 new writers and six new directors their first BBC Comedy<\/span> credit. We can\u2019t wait to see them go out.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can find a trailer and descriptions for all 11 shorts below.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\"><b>A Better Place<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\">This short, created and written by Book of Jam (Jacob Topen and Ibrahim Clayton), follows an oddball trio who inherit the failing family funeral business after their father\u2019s death.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\">Led by hapless son Archie, they devise a plan to save their funeral home from the clutches of rival businesswoman Eileen.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_Default"\">Book of Jam said: \u201cWe\u2019re delighted to bring Book of Jam\u2019s fly on the wall, dead-pan style to the BBC <span class=\""searchHighlight"\">Comedy<\/span> Festival. If a <span class=\""searchHighlight"\">comedy<\/span> festival needs more of anything, it\u2019s more plucky Dundonians, and stoney-faced Brummies, in a film about a funeral home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/comedy\/ted-lasso-episode-11-cliffhanger-newsupdate\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">Ted Lasso episode 11 ends on major cliffhanger ahead of finale<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/comedy\/david-tennant-michael-sheen-staged-season-3-bbc-newsupdate\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">David Tennant and Michael Sheen\u2019s Staged season 3 finally coming to BBC<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><h3 class=\""x_MsoNormal"\"><b>Birdsong<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\""x_p1"\">Uncle Shortbread (Arthur Studholme and Cosmo Wellings) are behind this short which stars Colin Hoult, and is about the dangers of sleep deprivation, the brutality of the music industry, and the power of Iggy Pop\u2019s hip thrust.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\">Uncle Shortbread said<i>: <\/i>\u201cMaking this short film with Hat Trick for the BBC has been an absolute dream come true. Not in the literal sense though, as sadly no one\u2019s eyeballs and teeth fell out during filming, and we never found ourselves standing naked on stage at our school talent show with our childhood sweetheart Cindy Business watching on and laughing. Hopefully next time.\u201d<\/p> <div class=\""brightcove\" embed=\"\"> <div class=\""embed__intrinsic"\"> <div class=\""brightcove__player\" vjs-playlist-player-container=\"\"> <video data-video-id=\"6327731283112\" data-account=\"69912529001\" data-player=\"ByeOf0VZEl\" data-embed=\""default"\" data-application-id=\"\" controls=\"\" class=\""video-js"\"> <\/video> <\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script src=\""\/\/players.brightcove.net\/69912529001\/ByeOf0VZEl_default\/index.min.js"\"\/> <h3 class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\"><b>Calamity James<\/b><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">This slapstick <span class=\""searchHighlight"\">comedy is based on the Beano comic strip of the same name and has been <\/span>written and created by Louis Paxton.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">It is about a young man (Dylan Blore) who is cursed with \u2018acute misfortune syndrome\u2019, and who tries to reconnect with his dad (Mark Bonnar) after being thrown out by his mum for setting fire to their house.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">Paxton said: \u201cCalamity James has been a wonderful opportunity for me. Together with some of Scotland\u2019s best cast and crew, we\u2019ve made an ambitious, heartfelt, and befittingly disastrous short film of which I am immensely proud.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\""x_MsoNormal"\"><b>Funboys<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">This film, written by Super Lemon (Rian Lennon and Ryan Early), is about Callum and Jordan, two emotionally-unassembled young lads from Northern Ireland who start the Funboys\u2019 Fun Club, a playgroup for childish young men to engage in wholesome mucking about.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">However, when a juice party goes awry, Callum\u2019s ultra-religious fianc\u00e9e Morgan kicks them out and the Funboys must search for a new HQ. When they come across Marty, a catatonically depressed 60-year-old, they try to bring joy back to his life and prove that fun won\u2019t necessarily lead to an eternity spent in raging hellfire.<\/p>\n<p>Super Lemon have called it a \u201cshort film based on our own sad, sad lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\""x_MsoNormal"\"><b>Jobless<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">Jobless is a sitcom from creator and writer by Thara Popoola about the Adenugas, a British-Nigerian middle-class family in Milton Keynes. The short particularly focuses on 16-year-old twin brother and sister Kehinde (Kenny) and Taiwo (Tai), who are desperate to make their mark on the world.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">Popoola said: \u201cI\u2019m so excited for the world to meet the Adenuga twins, Tai and Kenny, or as their mum likes to call them, \u2018jobless people\u2019! We\u2019ve had such a fun time making this, and I couldn\u2019t have asked for a better cast, who have brought these characters to life so brilliantly.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\""x_MsoNormal"\"><b>Man Eater<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">Written by Angela Nesi and Anna Brook-Mitchell, the synopsis for this short says: \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to embrace the beast within you\u2026 even if that means wolfing down a load of pervy men.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">Nesi and Brook-Mitchell said: \u201cWe are really excited to be a part of BBC <span class=\""searchHighlight"\">Comedy<\/span> Short Films. It was a brilliant opportunity for us to work with such a talented team led by John Pocock, a producer we\u2019ve been hassling to work with us for ages!<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">\u201cA huge thank you to everyone who worked on this film and to the BBC <span class=\""searchHighlight"\">Comedy<\/span> team for creating space and opportunity for female <span class=\""searchHighlight"\">comedy<\/span> writers\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\""x_MsoNormal"\"><b>Mobility<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\"><span class=\""searchHighlight"\">This short has been written by Jack Carroll and Tom Gregory, and stars Carroll as Mike, a student heading to his first day of sixth form<\/span> on the mobility bus with friends Sonny and Dan. Will they make it to school without strangling each other?<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">Carroll said: \u201cIt\u2019s been a lifelong ambition of mine to write and act in a BBC <span class=\""searchHighlight"\">comedy<\/span> and I couldn\u2019t be prouder of getting to do that with a project as good as Mobility. We had such great fun making it and I think that really comes across.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">\u201cI can\u2019t wait for viewers to join Mike and the gang for a journey on the mobility bus on the 26th May. Watch it and tell a friend, otherwise you\u2019re probably ableist.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\"><b>Pobl Bachyn<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\">Pobl Bachyn is a <span class=\""searchHighlight"\">comedy<\/span>-horror film from Tarot about the triple threat of Welsh folklore, English tourists and (to a lesser degree) being hungover, all set on a farm on Ynys M\u00f4n.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\">It has been written by Adam Drake, Ed Easton, Kath Hughes, Ben Rowse and Kiri Pritchard-McLean, while Pritchard-McLean also makes her directorial debut.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\">Pritchard-McLean said: \u201cI\u2019m so excited that the first project I\u2019ve directed is full of <span class=\""searchHighlight"\">comedy<\/span> talent I admire like Katy Wix, Dean Fagan and Tarot \u2013 I\u2019ve got to say them, really.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\">\u201cI\u2019m so happy we got to shoot it all in beautiful North Wales working with an abundance of Welsh talent. Pobl Bachyn will take you on a night out with friends and give you a messy end you\u2019ll be talking about for years.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\""x_MsoNormal"\"><b>This Is Gay<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">They\u2019re called \u201cgays\u201d. But what are they? Who are they? And why? Part mockumentary, part sketch show, This Is Gay attempts to answer questions such as what gays are, who they are and why. A figure known as Host takes you on a strange adventure with stop-offs including Renaissance Italy, modern-day London, a Welsh parish, and a fridge.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoNormal"\">Creator and writer Kirk Flash said: \u201cI just want to shine a light on the bits of gay life your local supermarket\u2019s Pride month advert won\u2019t touch.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\"><b>Where It Ends<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\">Jack Roberston writes and stars in this film about an actor who joins a panto tour of care homes, where he is confronted with the reality of where it ends. Also starring are Lauren Pattison, Charlie Hardwick and Dave Johns.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\">Roberston said: \u201cWhere it Ends is a personal story of something that actually happened to me and has stayed with me for years. So to be able to work with such fantastic people to bring the story to life, for screen, was amazing. But the best bit was the catering, the chips on set were perfectly seasoned.\u201d<\/p> <h3 class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\"><b>7 Minutes<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\">Ricky Gervais directs this short from writers Harry Carlile and Jonathan Parramint, which stars Joe Wilkinson and Seroca Davis. It is about who two people who both plan to end it all at a desolate train track, but awkwardly turn up at the same time.<\/p>\n<p class=\""x_MsoPlainText"\">Carlile and Parramint said: \u201cWe are so proud and excited to see our film come to life. We\u2019re so grateful to Ricky and the BBC for believing in us and this project, and can\u2019t wait for everyone to watch it. Please watch it.\u201d<\/p> <div class=\""brightcove\" embed=\"\"> <div class=\""embed__intrinsic"\"> <div class=\""brightcove__player\" vjs-playlist-player-container=\"\"> <video data-video-id=\"6327731283112\" data-account=\"69912529001\" data-player=\"ByeOf0VZEl\" data-embed=\""default"\" data-application-id=\"\" controls=\"\" class=\""video-js"\"> <\/video> <\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script src=\""\/\/players.brightcove.net\/69912529001\/ByeOf0VZEl_default\/index.min.js"\"\/> <p><strong>All 11 comedy shorts will be available on BBC iPlayer on Friday 26th May, and will be shown on BBC Three in the coming months. <\/strong><strong>Check out more of our\u00a0<a href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/comedy\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">Comedy<\/a>\u00a0coverage or visit our\u00a0<a href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/tv-listings\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/streaming-guide\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">Streaming Guide<\/a>\u00a0to find out what\u2019s on.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong class=\""ContentPasted0"\">Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only \u00a31 with delivery to your home \u2013\u00a0<\/strong><a class=\""ContentPasted0"\" title=\""https:\/\/radiotimes.com\/magazine-subscription?utm_term=evergreen-article"\" href=\"\/\/radiotimes.com\/magazine-subscription?utm_term=evergreen-article"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\" data-loopstyle=\""link"\"><strong>subscribe now<\/strong><\/a><strong class=\""ContentPasted0"\">. 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