C4 Blap based on comedian's time in a Bengali gang

Jonny Pelham is making a sitcom pilot for Channel 4, described as 'a British-Asian Inbetweeners', Chortle can reveal.

Blazing Bangladeshis is one of the channel's latest online  'Blaps', and loosely based on the white comedian's time in a Bengali youth gang.

Pelham has written and intends to star in the 'semi-autobiographical show about my time as a member of the coolest gang in Yorkshire, The Blazing Bangladeshis' he told Chortle. 'It will be set in Bradford and I'm really excited to showcase my city.

'I'm delighted that Channel 4 have given me this opportunity.'

Casting for other roles is currently under way, with filming expected to begin in September during freshers' week at the city's university.

Producers are seeking 'five South-Asians from Bradford or West Yorkshire, four men and a woman, who are funny and fresh and can play an 18-year-old college student.'

Pelham previously played fictionalised versions of himself in the sitcom Bobby & Harriet Get Married, alongside married comedians Bobby Mair and Harriet Kemsley, and in a Sky Arts short about losing his virginity.

Blazing Bangladeshis is directed and produced by Stu Richards for his Rockerdale Studios production company. Richards wrote, produced and directed Bobby & Harriet and wrote on Tim Renkow's sitcom Jerk.

'It's early days - we’re still putting together our creative team - but the process of looking for writers, cast and crew who bring some proper Bradfordian authenticity has been pretty damn thrilling,' Richards said. 'Turns out there's far more talent in West Yorkshire than I, as a proud Lancastrian, would ideally like to admit.'

A best newcomer nominee in the 2014 Chortle Awards, Pelham spoke about his time in the real-life Blazing Bangladeshis in his Edinburgh Fringe debut the following year. The comic returns to the festival next week with Off Limits, in which he recalls being sexually abused by a family friend at the age of eight.

- by Jay Richardson

Published: 24 Jul 2019