Channel 4 has announced new comedy sitcom Stepping Up, a six-part series set to deliver an original take on the modern family dynamic.
From Roughcut Television (Big Boys, We Might Regret This, Things You Should Have Done), Stepping Up is written by and stars Josh Pugh (Sneakerhead, Live at the Apollo), who plays… Josh: an over-enthusiastic stepdad bringing well intentioned chaos to his new - and previously harmonious - family unit.
Every day behind closed doors in Britain a stepdad negotiates the tricky paradox of bringing up another man’s kids: locked in several love triangles, the partner and the ex, the kid and the biological Dad, there’s no easy way to play it. Josh is desperate to prove his worth as the perfect role model to his stepchildren, the ideal partner to his girlfriend, and as an all-round ‘Good Bloke’.
Unfortunately for Josh, absolutely everyone in his life is totally fine and would much rather he stopped trying so incredibly hard to help and impress them all the time. No-one needs him to, but Josh is 'stepping up' anyway.
Charlie Perkins, Head of Comedy Channel 4, says: “There’s something magic in Josh’s naturalism that I don’t think we’ve seen in a sitcom before - he’s magnetic on screen and his writing under the expert shepherding of Roughcut is the perfect mix of hyper silly and hyper real. An exciting, new, natural born sitcom star in a simple sitcom world. Channel 4 are really proud that Stepping Up continues our work with Josh across the channel.”
Josh Pugh, Writer of Stepping Up, says: "I'm over the moon to be doing something that very few people get to do in their lives and make a sitcom. I live and grew up in a small town with stepparents on both sides, and I think it's a huge untapped well of comedy. A huge number of people in Britain are navigating the complexities of bringing other people's kids up and I want to capture that in a really funny and authentic sitcom that is also hopefully financially lucrative."
Steve Monger, Executive Producer at Roughcut TV, comments: "Josh is a brilliantly talented writer, performer, stand-up and king of socials skits. In Stepping Up he’s created a truly original, raucous and refreshing take on the family sitcom; Roughcut are very proud to be bringing this to life with Josh and Channel 4. See you in the Midlands!"
The series commission follows its successful release as part of Channel 4’s Comedy Blaps strand.
Channel 4’s Comedy Blaps have been a breeding ground for bold, original comedy, serving as a launchpad for acclaimed series such as We Are Lady Parts, Stath Lets Flats, Home, Chewing Gum and most recently, Pushers (formerly known as Disability Benefits).
Commissioned for Channel 4 by Charlie Perkins, Head of Comedy, Andy Brereton, Senior Commissioning Editor and Joe Hullait, Commissioning Executive, Stepping Up is a 6x30” production from Roughcut Television. Executive Producers are Ash Atalla, Alex Smith and Steve Monger. The series producer is Ben Worsfield.
Casting details and the transmission (TX) date for Stepping Up will be announced in due course.
