From Ellie & Natasia and Lazy Susan

The BBC has ordered two new comedy series, from Ellie & Natasia and Lazy Susan.

Both commissions for BBC Three follow pilots that were released last year.  Ellie & Natasia have six episodes, and Lazy Susan have four.

In a statement, Ellie White and Natasia Demetriou said: ‘In the midst of a pandemic the humble sketch is a shining light of hope and we are happy and honoured to be those torchbearers.’

Their show will be executive produced by Harry Hill, among others, who added: ‘Thrilled to hear that the BBC have rewarded the best new British double act since Vic and Bob with a series.’

Read our four-star review of their pilot here.

And Lazy Susan – Freya Parker and Celeste Dring – said of their show: ‘We are so grateful to the BBC for letting us stage our radical re-imagining of Hamlet on Ice.

The news follows the previously announced five-part third series of Famalan, which will launch later this year.  Two of the clips from the last season are among the most viewed videos on BBC social media channels; Turf Wars has been seen more than 30 million times and No White Jesus stands at 27.5 million views.

Shane Allen, the BBC’s controller of comedy commissioning, said: ‘The UK has a long and rich history of multi-character sketch comedy; these new shows carry that flame at a time when we need comedy to burn bright. 

‘The talents involved celebrate all that is wonderful about the British spirit and character to demonstrate that laughter really is the best medicine.’

Made by: Nit Television
Producer: Olly Cambridge
Director: Andrew Gaynord
Executive producers: Harry Hill, Mobashir Dar and Danielle Lux.
Commissioning editor for the BBC: Alex Moody.
Commissioned by: Shane Allen, controller of BBC comedy commissioning and Fiona Campbell, controller of BBC Three.

Made by: Tiger Aspect
Executive producer: Damian Kavanagh
Producers: Amy Anette and Katie Churchill
Commissioning editor for the BBC: Alex Moody.
Commissioned by: Shane Allen, controller of BBC comedy commissioning and Fiona Campbell, controller of BBC Three.

Published: 25 Mar 2020