The BBC has unveiled an exclusive first look clip and images for upcoming comedy The Reluctant Vampire based on the books by comedy legend Eric Morecambe and written by Rob and Neil Gibbons (Alan Partridge).

 

Produced by Boffola Pictures in co-production with ZDFneo and filmed in Gloucestershire, the show follows Val (Lenny Rush - Am I Being Unreasonable?) trying to live up to his father Victor’s (Tom Davis - King Gary) high expectations.

 

Val, the reluctant vampire himself, is hiding a secret as big as his cape: he is not part of the great undead, he is, in fact very much alive.  The series will see Val explore his newly discovered human side, whilst dealing with a casket-load of expectations from his tradition obsessed vampire dad, constant attempts to foil him from his suspicious brother, Vernon, (Gabriel Nagy - Extra Geography) and not always helpful advice from doting mum Valeeta, (Sian Clifford - Fleabag) who is the only one in the family who knows his true identity.

 

Watching over the chaos from above are the castle’s unmistakable gargoyles (Bill Bailey - Black Books, and Ross Noble - QI), the ever-observant, stone-faced figures looming over the castle from their lofty perches.

 

In an exclusive clip introduced by Lenny Rush (https://youtu.be/ATQIUXOqP4c), viewers get a closer look at these brooding onlookers. Perched high on the fortress, pulling their usual stony expressions, the gargoyles offer a glimpse of what they might be getting up to whilst observing the comings and goings below.

 

The gargoyles are not the only residents at the castle.  Also lurking in the ancient keep are Wilf the Werewolf, (Joe Wilkinson - After Life) and Igon, (Asim Chaudhry - People Just Do Nothing) the much put-upon assistant to the Vampire fang-ily, proving that co-habiting under one castle roof can be a real monster of a house share.

 

Meanwhile, leading the villagers’ charge and ready to raise a little hell against the bloodsuckers is John, (Charlie Cooper - This Country). At home he’s supported by wife Susan, (Esther Smith - Trying) and kept on his toes by daughter Gertie, (Ellie-May Sheridan - Dodger) who forms a friendship with Val.

 

The Reluctant Vampire (6x30’) was commissioned for BBC iPlayer and BBC One by Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy Commissioning. Written by Rob Gibbons and Neil Gibbons, the executive producer is Shane Allen. The series producer is Ali Marlow and the director is Emily McDonald. Gary Morecambe is the script consultant. The commissioning editors for the BBC are Ben Caudell and Navi Lamba, and Yi Qiao for ZDFneo. 

 

The Reluctant Vampire will rise on BBC iPlayer and BBC One later this year.