The Stage

Bhaskar becomes London detective for BBC1 comedy

Published Monday 28 November 2005 at 11:45 by Liz Thomas

Goodness Gracious Me comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar is starring in a new comedy drama for BBC1.

He will play a private detective working alongside Hollyoaks actress Natalie Casey on the beat in east London.

Producer Anil Gupta said: “Chopra Town is inspired by shows such as The Rockford Files and Minder, interesting, funny people in an interesting, funny world. Lots of cop shows nowadays are gritty and moody, about gruesome serial killers and we wanted to do an antidote to that, something light and vibrant, warm, exotic and exciting. We have cast people with great comic timing as characters who, like Jim Rockford or Arthur Daley, people can take to their hearts.” 

The show also stars Omid Djalili, Basienka Blake and Morwenna Banks. It is directed by Sean Grundy and is a Hat Trick production.

Sanjeev Bhaskar said: “In Chopra’s head he is Philip Marlow or Sam Spade, a loner who doesn’t care, a glamorous private eye but in fact his cases involve bakeries and a kidnapped cow and he has to go round his parents’ house for dinner.”