Creators include Amy Gledhill, Ola Labib and Josh Pugh

Channel 4 has announced its latest batch of short-form comedy Blaps.

Stand-ups Amy Gledhill, Ola Labib and Josh Pugh are being three of the projects – with actors Ada Player and Bron Waugh creating the fourth.

Blaps are seen as a way of piloting future TV  commissions, with We Are Lady Parts, Stath Lets Flats and Dead Pixels among the shows to have emerged from the strand.

Channel 4 has also launched a new stepping-stone for comedy talent called Playgrounds, an even shorter format designed to allow writer-performers ‘experiment and stretch their comedic muscles’.

The first batch will come from Ayoade Bamgboye (produced by A24), Johnny White (Baby Cow), Stephen Buchanan (Bandicoot TV/Belter Studios), Josh Glanc (Boffola) and  Dan Britt (Blink Industries).

The first of the new Blaps, Player and Waugh’s Peaked (pictured), has gone live on Channel4.com now, with the others coming soon.

Set in rural Derbyshire and made by Boffola, Peaked follows the social clumsiness and eccentricity of bickering BFF’s Sara (Eli McKenzie) and Beth (Player) who try too hard to get noticed in a small peak district town. When new boy George (Freddie Meredith) lands in town with his bongos, they compete for his attention.

The forthcoming Blaps are

Stepping Up, created by Josh Pugh

Lovable Josh is an over-enthusiastic stepdad who brings well-intentioned chaos to his new and previously harmonious family unit. No one needs him to but Josh is ‘stepping up’ anyway. Produced by Roughcut TV.

Toads (working title) created by Amy Gledhill  

A ‘who-wed-it’ comedy. Gledhill plays Amber who experiences cold feet just before her wedding. After kissing numerous toads in search of her prince, a looming question emerges: has Amber made the right choice? Produced by VAL.

The Pharmacy, created by Ola Labib

The Pharmacy delves behind the counter of a Wigan chemist’s shop as the oddball staff attempt to cure their community one patient at a time. This semi-autobiographical ensemble comedy, introduces us to a diverse group of misfits, tempted by the pills they serve customers whilst dealing with high rent, high stress and low pay. Produced by Objective Fiction.

Channel 4’s head of comedy, Charlie Perkins said: ‘Nothing comes from nothing. I really believe in the power of making short-form comedy, something will always come out of it for those both on and off screen. 

‘That could be a TV series, sure, but it could also be a million other brilliant things – from a new creative partnership that lasts a career, to an extra skill learned, to a piece of published work you are proud of that helps showcase what you do best. 

‘Channel 4 has always been world-class in nurturing and supporting emerging talent and with Blaps and Playgrounds I want us to keep this flame alive whilst adding in a new place for proper experimentation. 

‘We can’t wait to show people what the very best up-and-coming comedy brains can do in this brilliant haul and beyond.’

Published: 16 May 2024