Dawn French Returning To BBC For Sitcom ‘Can You Keep A Secret?’ From CBS Studios, Big Talk & Simon Mayhew-Archer – Edinburgh

Dawn French is returning to the BBC with a sitcom from This Country’s Simon Mayhew-Archer, CBS Studios and Big Talk.

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French is co-starring with Mark Heap on Can You Keep a Secret?, in which the comedy icon will play widower Debbie Fenton, 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 (Heap) unexpectedly dies, she makes an outlandish decision that will put the family under more pressure than ever before.

French hasn’t appeared on the BBC since a French and Saunders Christmas special in 2017. She made her name with her sketch show alongside Jennifer Saunders and has appeared in a wealth of other comedies and dramas, as well as performing stand up.

Can You Keep a Secret? is being created and written by Mayhew-Archer and directed by Ghosts’ Simon Hynd. It represents CBS’ latest push into the UK game. The studio is also behind James Norton-starrer King & Conqueror for the BBC.

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BBC comedy boss Jon Petrie said: “ Can You Keep a Secret? hilariously delves into a rarely portrayed stage of the family life cycle, blending classic sitcom elements with an exhilarating farcical crime twist. With Dawn French and Mark Heap leading the cast, this is an irresistible new comedy and I can’t wait for BBC viewers to see it.” Petrie has spoken of his desire for sitcoms of late.

Can You Keep a Secret? is a Big Talk Studios, Mayhay Studios and CBS Studios co-production for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. The series was commissioned by Petrie. The EPs are Kenton Allen and Mayhew-Archer; the producers are Lauriel Martin and Joe Scantlebury, and the director is Simon Hynd. The series is written and created by Mayhew-Archer. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Tanya Qureshi. Can You Keep a Secret? is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Further details will be announced in due course.

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