Hapless middle-aged dad gets a TV break...

Fergus Craig has shot a BBC Two pilot based on the hit viral videos he makes as a socially inept middle-class dad.

Martin Fishback will air next month, and charts the titular character’s attempt to become a successful crime novelist following his redundancy after 25 years in the toothpaste industry.

Craig has already written a detective thriller parody in Martin Fishback's voice, Once Upon A Crime, which introduced readers to Detective Roger LeCarre when it was published last year.

The comedian said: ‘So excited that the BBC is helping me to introduce Martin Fishback to the world. Martin is a man who, like all dads, is an expert on literally every subject.’

The BBC’s blurb for the show explains: ‘Martin settles on writing a detective crime-thriller after he's put on the spot by an incompetent police officer and heads into his home town of Exeter, aka "the crime capital of East Devon", for inspiration. Meanwhile, Martin's son Marcus returns home from university to introduce his girlfriend to his parents.

‘Socially inept Martin is keen to impress with his writing but, what would have just been a typically awkward family dinner, descends into drama worthy of any award-winning detective novel.’

And in the voice of Martin Fishback, Craig added: ‘Personally, I haven't watched the BBC since Countryfile went woke but seeing as they paid the invoice in a timely manner, I am happy for this to be broadcast. I'd just like to use this public forum to let it be known that if a full series is not commissioned by Easter Monday, I will be taking this to Netflix.’

The BBC pilot – which Craig wrote with Trollied and Bloods writer Paul Doolan – also stars  Samantha Spiro, Nathan Foad, Declan Baxter and Ambika Mod.

The 15-minute episode will air at 10.15pm on February 9 on BBC Two and iPlayer.

Made by: Happy Tramp North
Executive producer: Neil Webster
Director: Adam Jenkins
Producer: Ali Marlow 
BBC commissioner: Gregor Sharp

Published: 28 Jan 2022