Foreign Bodies based on backpacking

Tom Basden is writing a new backpacking comedy-drama for E4.

The broadcaster has commissioned an eight-part series of Foreign Bodies, about a motley gang of travellers embarking on a three month trip around Asia. 

Basden will also joined by a writing team that includes comedians Tim Key and Johnny Sweet as well as established writers James Wood (Rev), Tony Roche (Veep), and Charlie Covell (Banana).

The plot involves two British lads  Sean and Dylan, who meet American girls May and Ashley in Beijing and opt to undergo the first leg of their travels together.

May wants to meet her extended family in China and reconnect with her roots, Ashley is hell-bent on cramming in a lifetime of exotic experiences before she starts her high-flying career back home, Dylan wants to track down and win back his ex-girlfriend, and Sean wants to shed his innocence and forcibly grow up. There is also Greg, a 38-year-old divorcee who hopes to re-live the wild hedonism of his youth.

Former Edinburgh best newcomer winner Basden has previously written Fresh Meat, The Wrong Mans and Plebs.

Piers Wenger, head of drama for Channel 4, said: ‘Tom’s script captures perfectly the pleasures and the pain of the gap year backpacker as he follows the experiences of five young travellers on an epic and hilarious quest to find paradise while also trying to find themselves.’

Executive producers Joel Wilson and Jamie Campbell of the Eleven production house added: ‘We’re thrilled to be embarking - quite literally - on this adventure with Tom. He’s a brilliant, funny and deeply perceptive writer.’

Filming will begin later this year.

Published: 14 Jan 2016