New BBC comedy about a man faking his death

Filming has begun in the West Country on the new BBC One sitcom Can You Keep A Secret?, starring Dawn French and Mark Heap 

The six-part series apparently inspired by the case of ‘canoe man’ John Darwin –   the ex-teacher who faked his death in a canoeing accident –has been written by Simon Mayhew-Archer, the producer of This Country.

In it French plays widow Debbie Fendon, described as a ‘granny, lawn bowler and tinpot dictator who will stop at nothing to make sure her family’s protected. Unfortunately, most of the time the person they really need protecting from is her’.

When her hermit-like husband William (Friday Night Dinner’s Heap) unexpectedly dies, she makes an outlandish decision that will put the family under more pressure than ever before. Because William didn’t really die – he was just mistakenly declared dead, so decides to hide away in the loft waiting for the life insurance to pay out.

Craig Roberts plays their easily frazzled son Harry and Mandip Gill their daughter Neha, who also happens to be a police officer.

The BBC says: "Can You Keep A Secret? is the story of an odd little family you haven't met yet, but that you already know - a sitcom that places comedy icon Dawn French in the middle of some mischief we can all relate to.'

Written and created by: Simon Mayhew-Archer
Made by: Big Talk Studios with  Mayhay Studios and CBS Studios
Commissioned by: Jon Petrie, director of BBC comedy
Executive producers: Kenton Allen, Simon Mayhew-Archer, Dawn French and Toby Welch
Producers: Lauriel Martin and Joe Scantlebury
Director: Simon Hynd
Commissioning editor: Tanya Qureshi

Published: 10 Mar 2025