Jack Dee, Jennifer Saunders to appear in ‘Josh’

Comedian Josh Widdicombe and Tom Craine have written Josh, a new 6×30 sitcom for BBC Three.

After the successful pilot for last year’s Comedy Feed pilot, Josh returns with his flatmates Kate (Beattie Edmondson) and Owen (Elis James), and their relentlessly annoying landlord Geoff (Jack Dee) for a new series.

Frustrated, single and reliably grumpy, Josh feels completely stuck in his life with Kate and Owen, and as the series progresses, things only go from bad to worse. From a disastrous pool party, via public humiliation at his own birthday, to being toyed with by his high school crush, this baby-faced Victor Meldrew routinely fails to be left alone to find the quiet life he craves.

Meanwhile, Josh’s flatmate – and childhood best friend – Kate finds life equally difficult. An enforced holiday to Clacton-on-Sea reveals a rather unpleasant competitive streak, and a disastrous date leads Kate to discover a hugely embarrassing reputation she gained at university.

Owen, however, continues to drift along happy as Larry. He is a bundle of charm, with a never-ending fountain of anecdotes about nights spent with minor celebrities, from meeting Tasmin Archer in fancy dress to watching Shaggy wee in a pool. But as different as they are, they all feel equally tormented by their strange, fusty landlord Geoff, as he inflicts himself upon their lives at every turn. Geoff is a man of many ideas and all of them are bad.

The series will also feature star cameos, including Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous) as Kate’s mother and becomes the object of Geoff’s affections. Elsewhere, Romesh Ranganathan (Live at the Apollo), James Acaster (Mock the Week) and Paul and Barry Chuckle (your childhood) all make an appearance.

Josh is made by BBC Comedy and will air on BBC Three this November.