'Going Forward' Commissioned By BBC Four

BBC Four has announced the commission of a new comedy series, Going Forward.

The series will air on the channel later this year, and stars comedian Jo Brand as she returns as Kim Wilde.

Brand won a BAFTA in 2011 for her performance in BBC Four hospital sitcom Getting On; and now she returns in this three-part comedy. Employed by a failing outsource provider as a Care Assistant in the community, Kim receives little more than the minimum wage in return for unpaid overtime, management bullying and horrendous shift work. Her daily routine is matched only by that of her husband Dave, played by Omid Djalili, who is a self-employed private hire driver facing long days and grumpy customers. Add in an ailing mum, three children, a dog called Carpet, unfinished building work and a sister Jackie who has a plan to sort out everyone's problems.

Going Forward looks at modern Britain and how people make sacrifices as lives are put on hold for the sake of others.

Going Forward was commissioned by Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor of BBC Four, and Shane Allen, Controller of BBC Comedy Commissioning. It is written by Jo Brand, directed by Michael Cumming and produced by Geoff Atkinson for Vera.

Jo Brand said: "Having failed the auditions for Darts Players' Wives, it's lovely to slip into a glamorous lilac nurses tunic and step into the exotic world of community health care."

Cassian Harrison added: "I'm delighted to have Jo and the Getting On team returning to BBC Four. Getting On was a defining series for the channel and I'm really looking forward to seeing how the story has moved on in the intervening years."

Shane Allen commented: "Jo's naturalism as a performer is mesmerising, the casting is spot on and the writing is sublime. This is the world of zero-hours contracts alongside juggling the responsibilities and demands of that middle generation with demanding children and evermore dependent parents. It's a world Jo knows well as she brings truth, depth, heart and humour to our everyday world."

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre

(JP)