Diane Morgan show among new BBC comedies as NI content set for funding boost

BBC director of comedy Jon Petrie has announced 10 new and returning UK shows at the BBC Comedy Festival in Belfast and announced new funding for comedy projects from Northern Ireland.

Diane Morgan

Ruth Crafer

Heading the roster is 6×30′ sitcom Ann Droid (working title), produced by Boffola Pictures and Witchcraft Industries. It stars Diane Morgan (After Life) as a social humanoid robot, created to keep elderly people company and monitor their health.

The Reluctant Vampire (6×30′), meanwhile, also produced by Boffalo Pictures, is a supernatural coming-of-age comedy about a young vampire with an identity crisis, based on the books by Eric Morecambe.

Bill’s Included (6×30′) is produced by BBC Studios-owned Baby Cow. It stars Rob Brydon (Gavin & Stacey) as a middle-aged divorcee who staves off financial ruin by renting his spare room to students.

The Office star Mackenzie Crook is the writer, creator and director of Small Prophets (w/t). Produced by Treasure Trove and Blue House, the 6×30′ series tells the story of an eccentric man who creates magic spirits that can predict the future.

Stuffed (1×60′), from Baby Cow and Dice Roll, is a Christmas caper starring Guz Khan and Morgana Robinson, while Leonard & Hungry Paul (6×30′) comes from Subotica and is based on Rónán Hession’s book about two board-gaming friends.

The BBC also revealed the return of sitcom Only Child, starring Gregor Fisher (Rab C Nesbitt), Northern Irish series Funboys, Irish coming-of-age sitcom The Young Offenders and Welsh BBC Three comedy Golden Cobra.

Speaking in Belfast, Petrie also announced over £500,000 (US$671,000) of additional, year-long funding for new comedy.

The money will be ringfenced exclusively for production of new comedy in Northern Ireland for 2025/26.

Petrie said: “The BBC continues to be the biggest single investor in original comedy content in the UK. And for the second year running, eight out of the top 10 scripted comedies were on the BBC.

“Created, written by and starring some of the UK’s most brilliant homegrown talent, I’m really proud of the shows we have announced today and can’t wait for BBC viewers to see them.”