High and Dry: E4 orders comedy series from online short
David Farnor | On 26, Jul 2017
E4 has ordered a new comedy series based on an online short by Marc Wootton.
The internet has become a new pool of talent for larger broadcasters, with a growing number of web series picked up by everyone from the BBC to even Netflix. Shows such as People Just Do Nothing, which won multiple BAFTA this year, started off on YouTube. Both the BBC and Channel 4, though, also use their own online platforms to identity and develop new talent. Every year, BBC Three’s Comedy Feeds provide pilots for possible new shows starring up-and-coming names, while All 4’s Comedy Blaps serve a similar function.
Now, E4 has ordered a new comedy, High & Day, which started as a BLAP.
Written by Marc Wootton (Drunk History) High & Dry centres around survivors of a plane crash who have washed up on a remote island in the Pacific. Led by overbearing, sociopath air steward Brett Sullivan, also self-proclaimed “King of the Island”, the survivors assemble together in the belief they are each other’s best chance of survival, or so they think…. will people show their true colours when survival instincts kick in and will they ever stand a chance of being rescued?
Brett is played by Marc Wootton and also fastened in for the ride are spaced-out Arnab, played by Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing), cautious family man Douglas, played by Harry Peacock (Far from the Madding Crowd) plain speaking Harriet, played by Vicki Pepperdine (Getting On), dutiful Susan, played by Grace Rex (Tracers).
High & Dry was commissioned by Fiona McDermott, Head of Comedy for Channel 4. Jack Bayles serves as Commissioning Editor. The series is produced by Baby Cow Productions with Paul Schlesinger and Christine Langan serving as executive producer and Kerry Waddell as producer. It is directed by Dave Lambert (Undercover, The Mighty Boosh, Alan Partridge) and is filmed entirely on location in the idyllic beaches of the Seychelles .
Wootton says: “Having helped me develop the project from its infancy, I am honoured to be working with the fantastic team at C4 again. BabyCow are peerless when it comes to scripted comedy and I can’t think of a finer producing partnership. We are fortunate enough to have attracted the finest of comedy casts who make me laugh daily. The only shame in all this, is that we are being forced to film the entire show in the Seychelles. The commute is nightmarish.”
Jack Bayles, Commissioning Editor, adds: “In High & Dry, Marc has conceived a brilliantly ambitious, yet utterly ridiculous new sitcom. Alongside Brett – truly the air steward from hell – is a fantastic assortment of characters played by a wonderful ensemble cast. It’s totally, totally nuts and we love it.”
You can watch the original short on All 4 here