The Stage

BBC3 Blackpool drama to star Simm and Gatiss

Published Tuesday 21 September 2004 at 14:50 by Joanna Taylor

State of Play star John Simm and League of Gentleman actor Mark Gatiss are being lined up to take part in a new BBC3 comedy drama based around Blackpool’s light entertainment industry.

Created by League of Gentleman writer Jeremy Dyson and Simon Ashdown who pens scripts for EastEnders, Funland will launch on the digital channel next year. The first episode will be one hour long followed by ten half-hour shows. If successful, a repeat on BBC2 is likely.

Funland is being made by the Corporation’s new Manchester Comedy Unit, set up last year to nurture new talent in the north of England.

BBC editor of comedy Kenton Allen commented: “Jeremy and Simon have created a brilliantly compelling set of characters and original stories which I think will fry the minds of the BBC3 audience.

“The series represents another stage in establishing our reputation for daring, alternative, dark comedy and reinforces our commitment to home-grown talent and originality and demonstrates how the Manchester initiative goes from strength to strength.”

Funland was developed by Gabbie Asher and will be executive produced by Allen. The series producer and director are yet to be appointed.

The Manchester Comedy Unit has already produced I Deal, starring Johnny Vegas, which is to be broadcast on BBC3 next year.

Meanwhile, Simm will also star in a feature-length dramatisation of Joe Penhall’s Olivier award-winning play Blue/Orange for BBC4. He will appear alongside Brian Cox and Shaun Parkes in the 90-minute adaptation, which is a co-production between BBC Wales and BBC Fictionlab.