Third series for gangland comedy

BBC Three has commissioned a third and apparently final series of its comedy Witless.

Written by Lloyd Woolf and Joe Tucker, the show stars Kerry Howard and Zoe Boyle as flatmates in hiding and on the run after witnessing a gangland shooting.  

In the first series they were forced into Witness Protection, given new identities and left to fend for themselves in a grubby flat in Swindon. In the second, they ditched their police handlers in a bid to get their old lives back, but end up further embroiled in the world of gangs.

Howard said: ‘[I’m] beyond thrilled that Witless has a third series! It's so wonderful to be a part of such a talented team on this dynamic show. 

‘I thought I could second guess our writers but I literally don't have a clue where they will take the troublesome double-act that is Leanne and Rhona, I just pray they don't kill us off.

‘It’s amazing to get a hat-trick and I'm so grateful to BBC Three for putting their faith in this show and letting us grow.’

Shane Allen, the BBC’s controller of comedy commissioning, said that Witless featured a ‘whip smart concept, knockout funny writing, the dream double-act in Kerry and Zoe, a cast that launches new talents in a big way and highly ambitious direction’.

Five 25-minute episodes have been commissioned from writers Joe Tucker and Lloyd Woolf and programme-makers Objective Fiction.

Chief creative officer  Ben Farrell said he was ‘delighted’ with the commission, adding: ‘Had things ended with series two, it would have been like getting to the end of a novel and finding the last chapter missing. We hope the audience enjoy the exciting, rollercoaster end to the story.'

Both the first and second series are available on iPlayer.

Published: 23 Feb 2017