Filming starts on new series

BBC Two has ordered a full series of Mandy, a new comedy from Philomena Cunk star Diane Morgan.

Due to air later this year, the six 15-minute episodes will tell of a woman with big dreams – mainly breeding Doberman Pinchers – who struggles with more day-to-day concerns.

The commission follows a successful pilot released as a one-off Comedy Short on BBC iPlayer last year, which was Morgan’s directorial debut.

She also writes the series and stars alongside Michelle Greenidge, who plays Lola, Mandy’s confidante in the local nail bar.

Filming began yesterday, with episodes covering Mandy going on a health kick, renting out her back room on Airbnb and attempting a series of short-lived jobs in the gig economy.

Shane Allen, the BBC’s controller of comedy commissioning said: ‘Diane has terrific funny bones and as creator and director of Mandy she goes for the comedy jugular at every opportunity.’

Morgan herself said: ‘Why do they insist on sticking mayonnaise in everything? That's not a question that this series of Mandy will answer, but surely someone should be looking into it? Panorama?’

The original Comedy Short – which is  still available on iPlayer –  was described as as ‘tears-down-your-face funny’, by the Daily Mail.

Made by: BBC Studios 
Written, directed by and starring: Diane Morgan
 Producer: Sam Ward 
Executive producer: Ben Caudell
Commissioning editor for the BBC: Alex Moody.

Published: 6 Feb 2020