The five returning comedies reinforce the BBC’s commitment to original comedy content from across the UK.
Speaking at the BBC's Comedy Festival in Cardiff, BBC's Director of Comedy Jon Petrie unveiled a number of returning comedies, reinforcing the BBC’s commitment to original comedy content from across the UK.
Speaking at the festival, taking place this week at the BBC’s City of Comedy, Cardiff, Jon Petrie said "The BBC remains the biggest single investor in original comedy content in the UK. We’re so proud of the depth and range of our offerings which champion British creativity and I’m delighted to announce five brand new shows and five much-loved returning series."
Those five returning shows include...
Bad Education
With 1.1m viewers for series four, Bad Education is one of BBC Three’s most successful shows and will be returning for a fifth series with Layton Williams and Charlie Wernham returning as Stephen and Mitchell, and their unique approaches to teaching.
Vicki Pepperdine will also return as headteacher and control freak Ms Hoburn and Mathew Horne's Mr Fraser continues to hang around the school kitchen.
Also back are the new Class K which includes Asha Hassan as glamorous gossip Usma, Anthony J Abraham as wannabe roadman Inchez, Bobby Johnson as himbo Harrison, Laura Marcus as clueless slacktivist Jinx, Ali Hadji-Heshmati as eccentric Warren and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers as energetic hustler, Blessing.
The new six-part series will be a co-production between Tiger Aspect (part of Banijay UK) and Jackpot Productions, directed by Freddy Syborn, produced by Hussain Casey-Ahmed and executive produced by Jack Whitehall, Freddy Syborn, Sarah Fraser and Richard Ackerman.
Writers include Anna Costello, Ava Pickett, Charlie Wernham, Nathan Bryon, Laura Smyth, Rhys Taylor, Layton Williams, Felix Hagan, Freddy Syborn, with additional material from Kyrah Gray and Fathiya Saleh.
Avoidance
Created by Romesh Ranganathan and Benjamin Green, BBC One comedy Avoidance, about living your life avoiding conflict, avoiding making decisions and avoiding the mess that causes will return for a second series, starring Romesh Ranganathan, Jessica Knappett, Mandeep Dhillon, Lisa McGrillis and Kieran Logendra.
If series one was about a break-up and rebuilding a broken home, series two is about falling in love, messy reconciliation and a baby.
Speaking ahead of its return, Romesh Ranganathan and Benjamin Green said "We are absolutely delighted to bring back the dysfunctional Nadar family and get our incredible cast back together. We feel we should warn fans of the show that unfortunately Romesh will be wearing a lot of Lycra in series two. Sorry."
Produced by Ranga Bee, Avoidance will be written by Romesh Ranganathan, Benjamin Green and Jessica Knappett and executive produced by Michelle Farr-Scott, Romesh Ranganathan, Benjamin Green.
Mandy
Diane Morgan’s iconic character Mandy returns for a third six-part series and is once again written by, directed by and starring Morgan. Will she ever get to breed the Dobermans of her dreams?
Speaking ahead of its return, Diane Morgan said "Bigger hair! Longer cigarettes! Mintier pig! Expect all this and more in the third epic season of Mandy. Now in 3D (where available) – you’ll believe you’re actually inside Mandy’s small back bedroom! Get your free goggles in the Radio Times."
Produced by BBC Studios Comedy and Witchcraft Industries, Mandy is produced by Kenny Tanner.
Peacock
After an award-winning three-part pilot in 2022, Peacock will return for a six-part series on BBC Three starring Allan ‘Seapa’ Mustafa as the eponymous Andy Peacock, a personal trainer and man out of time.
Now the proud owner of a body-positive fitness business and in an actual adult relationship, Andy’s life is on the up. Only his ego can mess things up now.
Written by Steve Stamp and Ben Murray, Peacock is produced by Big Talk and Lara Singer and executive produced by Kenton Allen, Saurabh Kakkar, Steve Stamp and Ben Murray.
Ellie & Natasia
Ellie White and Natasia Demetriou return for a second series, this time on BBC Two, of their critically-acclaimed sketch show Ellie & Natasia, featuring characters such as the coffee spotters, the Brothers Pomodoro and a girl with a pixie haircut.
Speaking ahead of its return, Ellie and Natasia said "When the BBC came crawling on their knees begging us for a series 2 we didn’t have it in our hearts to say no. It is our pleasure to provide our stunning and excellent sketches and characters to help out the darling little BBC – it’s God’s work and someone has to do it."
To which Executive Producer Mobashir Dar, added "The BBC wanting more Ellie & Natasia is such fantastic news. All rise and hail the queens of comedy!"
Written and created by Ellie White and Natasia Demetriou, who also executive produce alongside Harry Hill, Danielle Lux and Mobashir Dar (c/o Vibrant Television), Ellie & Natasia is produced by NIT TV, the joint venture between Harry Hill and CPL Productions (a Seven.One Studios company).
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