Kwame's new family sitcom

Actor and playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah has written a new sitcom based around a black step-family.

A pilot of Rollin’ With The Roberts is to be recorded next month, although it is not yet known which broadcaster might pick up the series if it is a success.

The show stars Eastenders' Don Gilet as the father of the household, Chris, with Love Actually actress Nina Sosanya playing his second wife, Amy.

The comedy revolves around Chris’s children, who are 11 and 16 and split their time between their dad (and their six-year-old stepbrother) and their mum, who lives over the road.

The pilot also stars Jan Francis, from Just Good Friends, as the children’s stepgranny and former Desmond’s star Robbie Gee as Chris’s brother Errol.

Producers say: ‘As we all know, extended step-families have lots of frictions and ups and downs, and the Roberts family is no exception. With a fine old mix of class, roots, generation and culture, things can get a little spicy to say the least.’

Kwei-Armah is best known for playing paramedic Finlay Newton in Casualty, but he has also written several plays, including the acclaimed Elmina's Kitchen for the National Theatre.

Published: 18 Oct 2010