Broadchurch star pens E4 sitcom

E4 has commissioned a new sitcom inspired by the housing crisis.

Crashing revolves around six twenty-to-thirty-something adults hit hard by life and living together as ‘property guardians’ in a disused hospital.

The broadcaster said: ‘In an age of unaffordable housing and sky-high rents, becoming a property guardian has never been so appealing, with thousands of people paying as little as £25 a week to live in unoccupied buildings in exchange for protecting the property from disrepair.

‘Just imagine waking up every morning in your own historic building in the most exciting city in the world. Even if it is an enormous, creepy, derelict hospital…’

Crashing has been written by playwright and actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who will also star in it. She is known to Broadchurch fans as lawyer Abby Thompson, while her other credits include Bad Education, London Irish and The Cafe.

She said: ‘It’s an absolute dream to be writing for such a sexy, funny, groundbreaking channel. I’m over the moon that they’ve let this naughty little gang of characters into the fold.’

As a writer, Waller Bridge came to prominence at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe with her one-woman play Fleabag, which garnered her a Fringe First Award and The Stage Award for best solo performance. She has also been nominated for most promising new playwright at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

Crashing was ordered by Channel 4 commissioning editor, Rachel Springett, who said: ‘Phoebe is such extraordinary new writer/performer talent. We are thrilled to be making her first ever sitcom on the channel and we look forward to unleashing her unique voice and humour on to the world!’

Kenton Allen, chief executive of programme-makers Big Talk Productions added ‘We’re thrilled to be working with the phenomenally talented Phoebe on her first TV series.

‘She is at the forefront of the next generation of female writer/performers and has a unique comic voice so we can’t wait to breathe life into her fabulous scripts.’

The series will go into production in London over the summer to broadcast next year.

Published: 12 Feb 2015