Work starts on BBC's ad agency sitcom

Filming has begun on a new BBC Two sitcom set in an advertising agency and starring Adam Buxton and Iain Lee.

The title of the show has yet to be confirmed, but two pilot episodes shot in 2007 and 2008 went under the name The Scum Also Rises.

Lee and Buxton play two ‘underworked and overpaid’ creatives in the fictitious HHH&H agency, while stand-up Jarred Christmas plays boss Clive, described as ‘the most Australian man on the planet’. Although Christmas is, in fact, a New Zealander.

Simon Farnaby also stars as ‘uncontrollable urge-bag’ Keaton; while Daisy Haggard – who also stars in the upcoming Psychoville – plays the ‘spoiled neurotic’ Emma.

The six half-hour episodes are currently being shot in Teddington Studios. Debut writer Jonathan Thake came up with the scripts, which have been edited by Andrew Collins.

BBC commissioner Lucy Lumsden said the sitcom – made by Inbetweeners production company Bwark – was ‘another great example of our commitment to developing the audience sitcom and showcasing exciting new and emerging on and off-screen talent’.

The first The Scum Also Rises pilot was shot for BBC Three, with the agency boss played by Chris Barrie, while Green Wing star Pippa Heywood took the role in the second pilot.

Published: 11 Jun 2009