Black Dog Television has recorded a taster for a brand new sitcom starring Angela Barnes, Julia Deakin and Perry Benson, directed by Ella Jones (Enterprice, Pandemonium).
Bird has been written by the up-and-coming writing team of Ed Amsden and Tom Coles and follows the story of Michelle (Angela Barnes), an insecure woman fast approaching 40, who becomes pen pals with a convicted killer on Death Row. Pretty soon the letters are taking on a romantic edge and Michelle considers herself ‘in a relationship’ (albeit one which definitely ticks ‘It’s Complicated’).
Julia Deakin plays Michelle’s anxious mother Jan with Perry Benson portraying local golf lothario Murray.
Blending jet-black gallows humour with an unconventional love story, Bird is a highly original comedy about love, loneliness and putting a positive spin on serial killers.
Angela Barnes (Mock The Week, Live At The Apollo) said: “When Ed and Tom approached me with this idea, I was instantly in. And not just because they’ve got dirt on me. Ed and Tom are two of the funniest people I’ve worked with and I’ve worked with Bobby Davro.”
Talking about the shoot, she said: “Filming in Covid times was a little bit different, I still don't know what any of the crew look like from the eyes down, but Black Dog made sure we all felt super safe. It was just brilliant to be working and for those precious moments the cameras were rolling to forget about the pandemic for a bit.”
Ed Amsden and Tom Coles (Dead Ringers, Have I Got News For You) said: ''Angela isn't just at the top of the stand-up game, she's also a hugely talented sitcom actor. Which is why we hate her. Working with comedy legends like Julia and Perry was an absolute privilege.”
They added: “It's amazing how the design team made the massive Hollywood sound stage look so much like a 2-bed terrace in Chingford...”
Executive Producer Paul Powell (Black Dog Television) said: “We’re so excited to get Bird out there and onto your screens. Working with Angela, Julia and Perry was a fantastic experience and the chemistry between them was magical. Ed and Tom have written a hilarious script that’s full of great jokes, sympathetic characters and incredibly rude words.”
Black Dog Television is an independent television production company founded by three writer/ producers, Dan Gaster, Paul Powell and Will Ing.
They created, wrote and produced three series of the fantasy sitcom Zapped for UKTV, four series of the BBC2 panel show Insert Name Here hosted by Sue Perkins as well as two series of the panel show Alexander Armstrong’s Big Ask for Dave.
Bird is one of a series of sitcoms they are developing alongside new writers and performers.
