Miriam Margolyes To Star In New Comedy

Miriam Margolyes is to star in a new comedy, Bucket, which will air on BBC Four.

The 4x30' sitcom has been written by Frog Stone and also stars the actress as Fran. Margolyes plays her mother, Mim. Fran is a reserved, high school history teacher who is stuck in a rut, while her mother is eccentric and a free spirit who sees 70 as the new 40.

There relationship isn't smooth sailing, but when Mim reveals that she is dying and wants to go on a road trip to tick off various items on her bucket list, Fran feels like she has to go along for the ride. She has to learn to let loose, while Mim has to learn to think of someone else. For both of them, however, they have to learn to make the most of the time they have left together.

Bucket is commissioned by Shane Allen, Controller, Comedy Commissioning, and Cassian Harrison, Editor, BBC Four. It is executive produced by Judy Counihan for Solution 3 Productions, and Katie Mavroleon is producer. Alex Moody is BBC Commissioning Executive.

Shane Allen, Controller, Comedy Commissioning, said: "Miriam Margolyes gives her comedy masterclass in growing old disgracefully. This is a raucous, ribald and irreverent charting of the mother-daughter dynamic, laced with tenderness and truth throughout. It turns every stock cliché of the sitcom mum on its head and tells it like it really is. Miriam is a force of nature whose eccentric essence buzzes on screen and Frog brings it all to life with a brutal honesty. It's a quintessential BBC Four comedy that is at times hilarious and by turns very moving."

Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor, BBC Four, added: "Bucket is another example of BBC Four's terrific narrative in singular and innovative comedy, unpacking worlds we don't normally see on television. In this spiky yet always affectionate journey through the trials and tribulations of old age we look forward to welcoming one of Britain's greatest acting talents back to the small screen."

Image: BBC Media Centre.

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre

(JP/MH)