Deep Heat's guest stars will include Matt Lucas and John Thomson

Comedy duo Max & Ivan are making a wrestling comedy for ITV2.

The pair were previously behind the Edinburgh Fringe spectaculars which pitted comedians against real-life grapplers – while Max Olesker was once the UK’s youngest professional wrestler,  billed as Max Voltage, the Human Dynamo.

He and comedy partner Ivan Gonzalez, below, also have roles in the new show, Deep Heat.

The six-part series follows quick-witted, rebellious Holly, played by Jahannah James, a frustrated wannabe wrestler.

Her mum, Pam (Pippa Haywood) runs the North West’s oldest pro-wrestling company – left devastated when Holly’s brother Nick Nitro (Richard Fleeshman) poaches all her top talent. But if Holly can bring together Boss Pro’s remaining gang of misfits, the company might just survive…if only Pam would allow Holly to wrestle herself.

The ensemble cast also includes Paul Olima, Alistair Petrie, Sharon Rooney, Sasha Desouza-Willock and Abby Russell with guest appearances from Matt Lucas, John Thomson, Ben Ashenden and Carla Langley.

ITV executive Paul Mortimer, said: Deep Heat is a brilliant new addition to ITV2 and ITV Hub as we continue to bolster our scripted comedy content for younger viewers. The writers have created these brilliant and hilarious characters set in a fictional pro wrestling company.’

Episodes star Stephen Mangan is executive producing his show with his wife – and fellow actor Louise Delamere. In a statement they said: ‘We can’t wait to unleash the wonderful Deep Heat on the world – a high-energy and joyous comic celebration of wrestling, glamour and tight spandex.’

Max & Ivan wrote the show with Andrew Ellard, who previously worked on Alma’s Not Normal, Red Dwarf and Detectorists.

The half-hour episodes are directed by Matt Lipsey, whose credits include Psychoville and Intelligence.

Deep Heat has some echoes with Fighting with My Family, the 2019 comedy-drama written and directed by Stephen Merchant and based on the real-life wrestling family of WWE star Paige – whose brother and parents were also in the business.

Made by:Slam Films  with All3Media International
Written by: Max Oleske, Ivan Gonzalez and Andrew Ellard
Executive producers: Louise Delamere and Stephen Mangan
Produced by: Gayle Cop
Directed by: Matt Lipsey
Commissioned for ITV2 by: Paul Mortimer and Nana Hughes

Published: 3 Feb 2022