Star says Spreadsheet is unlikely to return

Katherine Parkinson’s Channel 4 comedy Spreadsheet has been axed after one series, the actress says.

In the show, she played Lauren, a  divorced lawyer looking for no-strings-attached sex. Rowan Witt was her assistant Alex who helps her devise a database to keep control of her sex life, which involves hook-ups with a string of needy men.

The eight-part series was filmed in Melbourne and aired on steaming service Paramount+ in 2021 before being picked up by Channel 4 the following year.

Screen Australia invested some development funding into a second series, but Parkinson believes it has come to nothing.

The IT Crowd star told the Sun: ‘Spreadsheet was great fun to film in Australia, but I’ve heard nothing about a second series and I’m pretty sure I would have been contacted by now if there were going to be more.’

When the show was launched, Nick Lee, Channel 4’s head of acquisitions, said: ‘Spreadsheet is a hilarious, risqué comedy which we are thrilled to be showing on Channel 4 and All 4. It has a distinctive, strong voice which we know will really resonate with our audience.’

But it was not warmly received by critics, with The Daily Telegraph saying: ‘It doesn’t quite know what to do with the subject, because Lauren doesn’t appear to particularly enjoy any of the sex she has, although that may be because it’s the sort of comedy where everybody is very deadpan.’

And The Guardian ruled: ‘Overall, the feeling you’re left with is one of faint boredom, edging into depression. Is this really the best we can do where women and sex are concerned in the year of our lord 2022?’

Parkinson’s romcom Significant Other launched on ITV1 last night, having premiered on the broadcaster’s ITVX streaming service last summer.

Published: 8 Jan 2024