Based on Luther star's 1980s childhood

Bill Bailey and Idris Elba are to star in a new Sky1 comedy set in the 1980s.

The show, called In The Long Run, draws on the Luther star’s own childhood in inner London in the 1980s.

He will play Walter Easmon, an immigrant from Sierra Leone, who is said to be partly modelled on his own father Winston. Bailey will play Walter’s best mate and neighbour, called Bagpipes.

Walter has a British-born son Akuna, who hangs out with his friend Scott, playing football and avoiding the local gangs; but the arrival of Walter’s brother Valentine with his ‘energy and lust for life’ makes the family dynamic a lot more chaotic and fun.

Elba is the creator and executive producer of the half-hour comedy, which has been written bytrio tiro of Claire Downes, Ian Jarvis and Stuart Lane – who penned The Job Lot and Carters Get Rich together – and Grace Ofori-Attah.

Elba said: ‘I’m really happy to be in comedy, bringing some joy into a world that needs some laughs. With a great team behind it. I look forward to people seeing it.’

Jon Mountague, Sky’s head of comedy, said: ‘We’re honoured to be working with Idris in what is an authentic, perceptive and deeply funny show. In The Long Run will surprise and delight viewers.’

Danny Baker recently announced that his BBC Two comedy Cradle To Grave – also set in a bygone London council estate and based on his real experiences – will be returning in December.

Published: 3 Oct 2017