David Walliams (The Queen and I), Natalie Dew (West End’s Bend It Like Beckham) and Sanjeev Bhaskar (Unforgotten) will star in Sandylands, a new comedy series written by Martin Collins and Alex Finch.
The three-part series follows Emily Verma (Dew), a 27-year-old living the high life in London after flying the nest from her seaside hometown, Sandylands.
When Emily hears her father Les Vegas (Bhaskar) is lost at sea, she returns to her childhood home and reconnects with her old best friend Tina (Harriet Webb) and quickly befriends her oddball next door neighbours Derek Swallows (Walliams) and his wife Jeannie (Sophie Thompson).
While putting her father’s affairs in order, Emily discovers that Sandylands is not the same town that she remembers. She finds herself being watched from the shadows by a mysterious one-eyed man who is an employee of the life insurance company that’s due to pay out a large sum for her father’s disappearance.
Sandytown also stars Simon Bird (Friday Night Dinner), Craig Parkinson (Temple), Hamza Jeetooa (Our Girl) and Bronwyn James (Harlots).
“As a father/daughter relationship comedy with a twist, this series breaks more ground for comedy originations on Gold,” said Pete Thornton, head of scripted at UKTV.
“The quality of the cast is a testament to the range of brilliantly drawn characters that Alex and Martin have created and we’re very much looking forward to diving into the mysterious waters swirling around Sandylands.”
Jo Sargent, executive producer for King Bert Productions, added: “We’re delighted to be working with Gold to bring this three-part series to life.”
“Martin and Alex have written a brilliant comedy that celebrates the great British seaside; full of laughs, twists and turns and seagulls.”
Sandylands will air on Gold in 2020.
