Star Struck revolves around a young woman struggling in London

Rose Matafeo is to star in a BBC Three sitcom, Chortle can reveal.

Star Struck follows a twentysomething woman living in London as she tries to work out life and love.

The comedy is directed by Karen Maine, whose autobiographical film Yes, God, Yes, about a Catholic girl discovering masturbation has been widely acclaimed after premiering at this month's SXSW Festival in Texas.

American helmer Maine, who wrote the 2014 abortion comedy film Obvious Child starring comedian Jenny Slate as a pregnant stand-up, previously lived in London while working in publishing.

She told the WWD website that Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Matafeo is 'amazing. Everyone's going to know who she is in a few months'.

Filming on Star Struck follows a successful pilot in London earlier this year. It is produced by Catastrophe's Toby Welch for Avalon Productions.

Further plot and cast details are yet to be revealed.

Matafeo  is currently shooting her first starring role in a film, Baby Done, in her native New Zealand. In it, she plays a pregnant tree surgeon trying to achieve a list of dreams before she becomes a mother.

She is also developing a BBC Three sketch show, Party Time, with Lolly Adefope and Emma Sidi.

The Kiwi comic starred in the Australian commuter sitcom Squinters last year, with Tim Minchin, Sam Simmons and Steen Raskopoulos and has appeared in W1A and BBC Three’s series of sex comedy shorts, Climaxed.

- by Jay Richardson

Published: 28 Mar 2019