BBC Comedy and BBC Two has commissioned Afternoons, a new six-part series from The Inbetweeners co-creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley.
The series follows the mostly off-the-pitch misadventures of three young football players on a fictional Premier Club team. The stories focus on their friendship, and these boys from around the world are far less proficient with women, money and social media than they are at scoring goals.
The series is produced by Fudge Park and is being written by the award-winning duo Morris and Beesley. The pair, who will act as showrunners during production, are writing together for the first time since the massive success of The Inbetweeners series and films.
Emmy Award-winning producer Tom Werner (Roseanne, That ‘70s Show) and Caroline Leddy (The Inbetweeners,Derry Girls) are executive producing the comedy which has been commissioned by Shane Allen, Controller of BBC Comedy, and Patrick Holland, Controller of BBC Two. Gregor Sharp is the BBC Commissioning Editor.
BBC Studios is developing, financing and handling international distribution rights for the series.
Shane Allen, Controller of BBC Comedy, said: “Having Iain and Damon back together on a new scripted piece is about as good as it gets in comedy. Their take on what happens off the pitch brims with their skill at creating a gang of instantly recognisable characters, memorable dialogue, deftly tuned plots and excruciating humiliation is never far away.”
“We're delighted to be working together again, and incredibly grateful to Shane Allen and the BBC for the faith they have shown in the idea. We're hoping to show viewers the hilarious inner lives of three young men who just happen to have a very stressful job in the public eye,” said Morris and Beesley.
“I have been friendly with Iain and Damon for quite a while, and I have longed to work with the two of them as they are such brilliant comedy writers. I hope my experience with Liverpool can provide some authenticity and humour to what is a very exciting format,” said Tom Werner.
Jonathan Blyth, BBC Studios Director of Comedy, said: “We’re very excited to be collaborating with Iain and Damon on this new series. It’s a cracking show that will delight audiences around the world, and promises to be a global hit.”
Fudge Park and the BBC have had a fruitful working relationship since Fudge Park’s inception in 2015. In the last couple of years, Fudge Park has produced several original series for BBC Two including White Gold starring Ed Westwick, Joe Thomas and James Buckley. The second series will air on BBC Two next month.
Other series for the BBC include Ill Behaviour, written by BAFTA Award winning writer Sam Bain and Enterprice starring Kayode Ewumi.
Tom Werner is a veteran US comedy television producer who has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Producers Guild of America and has been inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. His company, The Carsey-Warner Co has earned 24 EmmyÒ Awards, numerous Golden Globes and Peabody Awards. Werner has executive produced over 1600 half hours of quality television including That 70s Show, The Cosby Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Cybill and Roseanne. Most recently, he’s been behind the revival of Roseanne and The Conners, both of which have been big hits for ABC. In addition, Werner is the Chairman of the Liverpool Football Club.
Casting will be announced in due course.
