David Farnor | On 09, Feb 2018

People Just Do Nothing’s Lily Brazier is taking centre stage for Wannabe, a new comedy series for BBC Three.

Starting life as a Comedy Slice, BBC Three has instead ordered the pilot straight to series, with filming already underway. Co-written by and starring Brazier (Miche in the BAFTA winning PJDN), the four-episode comedy tells the story of unfinished business, one last shot at fame and the struggle to let go of a lifelong dream.

Back in the girl-power heyday of the 90s, a hit single would easily get you 15 minutes of fame. But 15 minutes is not quite enough for some people. Maxine (Lily Brazier) never made it to the big time as part of girl group Variety, but is still desperately trying to cling on to her dream as the (failing) music manager for teenage pop group Sweet Gyal. However Maxine finds herself in crisis when, fed up of her trying to live vicariously through them and her embarrassing attempts to get them a record deal, Sweet Gyal threaten to drop her.

But Maxine is planning a come back. This time bigger, bolder and, well… older. What the world is really missing, she decides, is Mum Pop. And so begins a new obsession with tracking down her ex-bandmates and relaunching her life in the limelight.

Brazier leads a cast including Nicholas Burns (Nathan Barley, Uncle), Jim Howick (Yonderland, Peep Show), Amy Booth-Steel (The Windsors), and Alexis Strum, plus Savannah Steyn, Karla Simone Spence and Imogen Gurney as Sweet Gyal. It was written by Lily Brazier and Ben Murray.

Brazier says: “Ben and I have had so much fun writing Wannabe. Thanks to Maxine I’m getting to live out my childhood dream of being a popstar (albeit a failed one!), and I’m really looking forward to working with the talented cast to bring the world of Wannabe to life.”

Shane Allen, Controller, Comedy Commissioning, at the BBC says: “This is a very different character for Lily to take on after her deserved success with People Just Do Nothing. In Maxine, Lily and Ben have created a self-obsessed comedy monster who lurches from one car crash to the next. It’s a sign of the commitment to new talent that BBC Three is backing Bullion’s first scripted comedy series. The pilot was terrific and we await the series excitedly like expectant parents.”

Damian Kavanagh, Controller, BBC Three, adds: “At BBC Three, introducing, developing and providing opportunities for new talent is at the heart of what we’re about. I’m really looking forward to seeing Lily take centre stage as Maxine and we’re delighted to host her and the co-creator, Ben’s, latest foray into comedy writing.”

Add to Watchlist