BBC3 doc traces People Just Do Nothing story

People Just Do Nothing started life on YouTube

BBC3 in the UK has ordered a documentary about its hit comedy People Just Do Nothing, charting the mockumentary’s rise from YouTube to a forthcoming feature film.

Kurupting The Industry: The People Just Do Nothing Story (1×45′) has been made by the Bafta-winning comedy’s producer Roughcut TV and will air next month.

It coincides with the release of feature film People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan in August and will see the team behind the mockumentary series reflect on their journey from the small screen to the big screen.

Created by and starring Allan Mustafa, Asim Chaudhry, Hugo Chegwin and Steve Stamp, People Just Do Nothing follows a group of aspiring MCs and DJs as they run pirate radio station Kurupt FM.

Having originated as a web series on YouTube, the pilot episode launched on BBC iPlayer in 2012 and was followed by five seasons.

The documentary will feature interviews with Mustafa, Chaudhry, Chegwin and Stamp as well as other cast members Dan Sylvester and Lily Brazier, plus executive producer Ash Atalla, director Jack Clough and producer Jon Petrie, the next director of the BBC’s comedy department.

People Just Do Nothing superfans Clara Amfo, Martin Freeman, Dizzee Rascal and Kurupt FM collaborator Craig David will also share their favourite memories and moments from the series and offer their insights into what has made the show such a success.

The doc was commissioned by Shane Allen, outgoing director of BBC Comedy, and Fiona Campbell, controller of BBC3. The executive producer for Roughcut TV is Atalla and the commissioning editor for the BBC is Ben Caudell.

Caudell said: “It’s the ultimate rags-to-riches story: the journey that the PJDN gang made from online amateurs to fully fledged professional movie idols is an incredible one and a fascinating insight into how doing your own thing can build to comedy superstardom.

“Packed with great clips and famous fans, it’s a thoroughly entertaining ride. If you thought documentaries were all about unsolved murders and poisoned fish, think again – here’s a doc you can actually laugh at.”