... and she has a book deal

Mae Martin is shooting a semi-autobiographical pilot for Channel 4.

And Chortle can reveal that the Canadian comedian has written her first book, a teenager's guide to sex.

Martin has written and will star in the sitcom taster as a loose version of herself, a stand-up grappling with her sexuality and sobriety.

The pilot is being made by Objective Fiction, the production company behind Peep Show, Fresh Meat and Roisin Conaty's upcoming series Gameface.

A source at Objective confirmed to Chortle that the pilot will shoot later this year. It is believed that Skins scribe Joe Hampson has written the script with Martin.

The unnamed pilot expands upon the themes of sexuality and gender fluidity of Martin's 2015 stand-up show Us and the addictive personality she addresses in her current show, Dope, for which she earned an Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination. 

She appeared in the Channel 4 Blap series Outsiders last year, alongside fellow comics Sofie Hagen, Pierre Novellie, Jamali Maddix and Yasmine Akram. But the pilot was not picked up for a television series.

The bisexual comic, who previously adapted Us for Radio 4 as Mae Martin's Guide To 21st Century Sexuality, has also now written a sex advice book for teenagers.

Can Everyone Please Calm Down?, which will be published in July next year by Wren & Rook, a children's imprint of Hachette, is described as a 'hilarious look at sexuality, dating and gender in the 21st century' that 'aims to break down barriers and start conversations.’

The blurb adds: ‘With a blend of personal anecdotes and clever social observations, Mae gently pokes fun at stereotypes, pigeon-holing and intolerance in this truly millennial book.’

The publishers say that 40 per cent of people under 25 don't identify as gay or straight, ‘but society hasn't necessary caught up with this’.

Martin begins a mini-tour of Dope with 12 nights at London's Soho Theatre from next Monday.

- by Jay Richardson

Published: 11 Sep 2017