Murder in Successville

Industry experts share the secrets to get comedy on TV

Tom Davis, James de Frond, Lara Singer and Andrew Brereton (Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian)

A packed RTS Futures event, “Pitching script to screen”, offered aspiring writers and producers tips on how they should hone and sell their ideas to commissioners.

Leading the panel of seasoned comedy and entertainment practitioners was Tom Davis, the star of the RTS and Bafta award-winning BBC Three sitcom Murder in Successville.

Original comedy announced for BBC One

From Tom Davis and James De Frond, creators of RTS-nominated Murder in Successville, the show follows childhood sweethearts and comedy double act Gary and Terri King, in their pursuit of moderate (and immoderate) success in their competitive suburban idyll.

Combine that with Gary’s desperate need to impress his ‘not-in-my-day’ father, Big Gary, and you have, says the BBC, “a massive ‘try hard’ douchebag”.

Romesh Ranganathan, Simon Day , Camille Coduri , and Laura Checkley will also be appearing in the pilot.

Tom Davis on Judge Romesh, comedy and Coogan

At over two metres tall, with a gravelly voice that rumbles up out of his chest before skittering around in the thick beard that populates his face, Tom Davis could be an intimidating figure.

But he isn’t. In a soft cap, and chunky glasses, looking dapper and approachable, the Bafta-winning scaffolder-turned-comic reflects on an unusual career trajectory that has brought him to his most recent role: Court Bailiff in Dave’s new series Judge Romesh.

ITV2 commissions spy spoof Action Team

Action Team is a spoof spy action series following the exploits of a top-secret team of special agents working for the British government and tasked with saving the world.

Written by Tom Davis (Murder in Successville, Plebs) and James De Frond, this new comedy will star Davis alongside Jim Howick (Broadchurch), Kayode Ewumi (#HoodDocumentary) and Laura Checkley (Bridget Jones’s Baby).