Comedians Joe Wilkinson, David Earl agree development deal with Zeppotron

Joe Wilkinson (left) and David Earl

Banijay UK label Zeppotron has signed an exclusive development deal with British comedians David Earl and Joe Wilkinson and their indie Big Oval Plate Productions.

Under the two-year deal, the duo will work with the Zeppotron team to develop comedic non-scripted television formats, including travelogues, factual entertainment and reality shows.

Earl and Wilkinson are frequent collaborators. They created, wrote and starred in the sitcoms Rovers (Sky One) and The Cockfields (Gold/BBC Two), and also worked together on screen in three seasons of Ricky Gervais comedy-drama After Life (Netflix).

Earl also co-wrote and starred in 2022 comedy-drama film Brian & Charles, while Wilkinson’s acting credits include Sex Education (Netflix) and Him & Her (BBC Three).

In 2020 the pair launched their production company Big Oval Plate, through which they produce and host their podcast series Chatabix.

Wilkinson has a long-standing relationship with Zeppotron, having first appeared on its comedy panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats in 2011 and having been a key cast member on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown since its inception.

Ruth Phillips, co-MD of Zeppotron, said: “As well as being brilliant comedic performers and writers, Joe and David are also blessed with wonderfully inventive minds and an astute knack for coming up with unusual, funny ideas that nevertheless have a big, mainstream sensibility.”