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‘Woody’ goes into production

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BBC One has confirmed more casting for new six-part comedy, Woody as filming commences.

Joining already announced leads, Kayvan Novak (Four Lions) and Bradley Walsh (Law & Order: UK), will be Emma Pierson (Up The Women), Jamie Demetriou (The Midnight Beast), Keith Allen (Robin Hood) and Alan Williams (Starlings).

Plus cameo appearances from Lee Boardman (Drop Dead Gorgeous), Clive Swift (Keeping Up Appearances), Alex Kirk (Mount Pleasant), Tracy Ann Oberman (Friday Night Dinner) Jack Dee (Lead Balloon), Kara Tointon (EastEnders), Simon Day (The Fast Show), Cavan Clerkin (The Inbetweeners), Paul Kaye (Game Of Thrones), Sean Gilder (Shameless) and Morgana Robinson (House Of Fools).

Set on a fictional Spanish island, Kayvan Novak plays the titular role of Woody, an undercover reporter who is forced to flee from the British authorities after being framed by his corrupt newspaper editor. Woody goes on the run to find Brutus (Walsh), his former mentor at the newspaper and the one man he can trust. But Brutus, who is now an expatriate living a quiet life running a bar on a Spanish island, is less than thrilled to see Woody. Despite their efforts to lay low, trouble seems to find them, so Brutus and Woody end up joining forces to take on a series of investigations, crimes and mysteries, seeing Woody running rings around the locals by adopting a variety of guises at a moment’s notice.

Kayvan Novak adds: “So here I am in the sun, solving crimes and pretending to be a pirate, a hypnotist and a lady croupier. I thought life couldn’t get any better. Then I saw Bradley Walsh drive by on a jet ski wearing nothing but a dressing gown. I love this place.”

Bradley Walsh says: “My goodness, what a blast it is filming Woody. With a very funny script, brilliant cameos from the likes of Keith Allen and Paul Kaye as Señor Big and Frederico Mercury, what’s not to like! I’m loving every second working with the brilliant Kayvan Novak, it’s a hoot from dawn to dusk.”

Producer/Writer, Neil Webster, says: “We’re delighted to be making this huge, silly, sunny show for BBC One. We have a whole raft of capers for Kayvan, Bradley and the gang to enjoy, including talking parrots, the island’s annual hypnotist convention and the murder of the Spanish singing superstar, Elton Juan. We’re aiming to bring a lot of warmth into viewers’ homes week after week.”

The series is created and written by Neil Webster and Charlie Skelton (Would I Lie To You, 10 O’Clock Live) Produced by Neil Webster and directed by Ben Palmer (The Inbetweeners) for Happy Tramp Productions.

Woody will air on BBC One in Spring 2015.