Award-winning cast re-unite as production begins on Rev. series 3 for BBC Two

Filming has commenced today on BAFTA-winning BBC Two and Big Productions comedy, Rev starring Tom Hollander and Olivia Colman.

The six-part series created and written by Hollander and James Wood, asks big questions of the Reverend Adam Smallbone (Hollander) as he and his wife Alex (Colman) adjust to life as new parents in the inner city parish of St Saviour’s, Hackney. How will Adam cope with parenthood on top of his small but demanding congregation? Can he manage being a father and a Father?

The new series brings a host of new and returning characters to meet St Saviour’s band of lost but loveable misfits in six exciting new episodes that see Adam pushed to the limits of priestly endurance. Can he continue to fight the good fight against indifference, the worst aspects of his institution and his own tendency towards temptation? Re-joining Tom Hollander and Olivia Colman are the ensemble cast of Simon McBurney (Archdeacon Robert) Miles Jupp (Nigel, the Lay Reader) Steve Evets and Ellen Thomas (Colin and Adoha, of the St Saviour’s congregation) Lucy Lieman (Ellie, head teacher at the local school) and Jimmy Akingbola (Mick, the resident vagrant).

Hugh Bonneville reprises his on-going guest role as Adam Smallbone’s arch nemesis, Roland Wise, Joanna Scanlan and Vicki Pepperdine become series regulars as Jill and Geri, the Area Dean and Diocesan Secretary who have St Saviour’s firmly in their sights for possible redevelopment, Dexter Fletcher guest stars as Mike Tobin, a Turner Award-winning artist who befriends Adam in unusual circumstances and Kayvan Novak also guest stars as the local Imam.

Tom Hollander will write his first solo episode and multi-award winning Peep Show creator Sam Bain will also write an episode. Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) who has directed every single episode of Rev. to date, returns to direct his third series alongside new producer Polly Buckle (Being Human).

Executive producers are Big Talk Productions CEO, Kenton Allen, Hannah Pescod, Matthew Justice, Tom Hollander and James Wood.

At the 2011, 38th annual Broadcasting Press Guild Awards, Tom Hollander and James Wood won the writers award, and Olivia Colman won two awards (Best Actress and the Breakthrough Award), for her role as Alex Smallbone.

The third series of Rev will air on BBC Two in Spring 2014.