High hopes for new sitcom

Gareth Gwenlan used to produce Only Fools and Horses

By Tom Bourton BBC News Online

Marking his debut in his new role as BBC Wales's new head of comedy, Gareth Gwenlan - best known for producing Only Fools and Horses - is close to completing a new sitcom set in the south Wales valleys.

Set in the fictional town of Cwm Pen-ol, the action focuses around a dysfunctional household headed by an agraphobic rogue nicknamed Fagin (Robert Blythe).

Robert Blythe stars in the new sitcom

The sitcom has been written by comedian Boyd Clack, who recently wrote and starred in cult TV comedy Satellite City.

Gwenlan has described the audience's reaction to the show as encouraging, and hoped it would not just be a one-off.

"The potential is for it is to go on and on, as the characters are set up and could sustain it for some time," said Gwenlan.

"The central character who is an ex-convict, who is supposed to have served five years for manslaughter, but now lives with his mother.

"In the first episode, two young boys try - very ineffectively - to break in, but they get caught, and he takes pity on them as they are sleeping rough, which is how he acquires his pet name of Fagin."

Gwenlan explained that it was very much a black comedy, but one which has has quite alot of relevant points to make about society and youth.

"The central character is reminiscent of Hancock, as he is full of bluster, but he is also very prejudiced and loud - a bit like Alf Garnett - it is an interesting mixture," he explained.

"Also, because of the issues it deals with, of a family existing within the system, there is a bit of Bread in there as well."

Future plans

All of the external shots have already been completed, from a handful of locations around the Valleys, as the producers were keen to avoid identifying their mythical village too closely with any particular area.

The series should be finished by the start of July and has been pencilled in to hit BBC Wales screens in the autumn.

Later this year, Gwenlan will begin work on the fourth series of Lucky Bag, and is also due to start on a radio sitcom set in a DIY store called Do It Yourself.

Further in the future, a series of comedy pilots showcasing the work of new writers could also be on the way.

Anyone interested in attending to the final audience sessions on 16 and 22 June shoud call 0870 013 1812.