Mark Heap and Dawn French sign up for new sitcom by ‘This Country’ writer

nme.com:

BBC titled Can You Keep a Secret?The actors will play a married couple in the show, and when William Fenton, played by Heap (Spaced, Brass Eye) dies, French’s Debbie quickly moves through her grief and progresses on to thinking about the insurance payout.That is because William is not in fact dead – a clerical error sees him declared as deceased when he is still alive.

The couple take advantage of the situation, cooking up a scheme to claim a hefty payout, with William having to hide out in the loft for a few months until the money arrives.The six-episode series will be directed by Simon Hynd (Ghosts, Motherland) and is written by Simon Mayhew-Archer (This Country).“At last, a sitcom where I can keep my top on,” French said in a press release. “Mostly.”“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,” said Jon Petrie, director of BBC Comedy. “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.”No broadcast date has been confirmed for the show.In April, French shared her opinions on cancel culture, saying, “We are expected to present ourselves as perfect.”The comedian had been told to “catch up” after holding a podcast conversation about J.K.

Rowling’s controversial comments about the trans community. “We’re all talking about inclusivity and favouring difference and all the rest of it,” she went on to say.