BBC Three Commission New Series Of Witless

BBC Three have commissioned a third series of comedy series, Witless.

Written by Lloyd Woolf and Joe Tucker and starring Kerry Howard (Him And Her, Young Hyacinth) and Zoe Boyle (Downton Abbey, Frontier), the series follows flatmates Leanne (Howard) and Rhona (Boyle) as their lives are thrown into disarray after witnessing a gangland shooting.

The first two series received rave reviews with Digital Spy declaring it was one of their 'favourite new comedies of 2016', and The New Statesman saying 'Witless makes other sitcoms look more like a gently bubbling pot...'

Series one saw Leanne and Rhona forced into Witness Protection, given new identities and left to fend for themselves in a grubby flat in Swindon, whilst attempting to avoid detection from the trigger happy teenage gang members on their tail. When Leanne gets romantically entangled with Patrick (Samuel Anderson, Doctor Who, Trollied), they unwittingly become entangled in the criminal world they were trying to escape. The first series ended on an out-and-out cliff-hanger with the girls accidentally shooting their overbearing neighbour Jackie, after their location is compromised by a corrupt cop.

Series two picked up immediately on the action, and took the mixture of comedy and drama to a new level with the pair taking matters into their own hands in their determination to escape Wit-Pro and get back their old lives. Ditching the police and going on the run the girls seek safety at Patrick's and with his help begin to hatch a plan. But when Leanne and Rhona attempt to infiltrate a gang land funeral, taking them to the heart of the criminal's lair and face to face with gang boss, Willy Whelan (Francis Magee - Game of Thrones, Rogue One), the suspense reaches another heart thumping cliff-hanger.

The third series promises to continue to ramp things up with Leanne and Rhona getting closer to the end of their ordeal – but whether they make it out unscathed remains to be seen.

Kerry Howard said: "Beyond thrilled that Witless has a third series! It's so wonderful to be a part of such a talented team on this dynamic show. I thought I could second guess our writers but I literally don't have a clue where they will take the troublesome double-act that is Leanne and Rhona, I just pray they don't kill us off! It's amazing to get a hat-trick and I'm so grateful to BBC Three for putting their faith in this show and letting us grow."

Shane Allen, Controller of Comedy Commissioning also said: "Witless is the dream BBC Three sitcom – a whip smart concept, knockout funny writing, the dream double-act in Kerry and Zoe, a cast that launches new talents in a big way and highly ambitious direction. It's got the lot. Here's to going out on an adrenaline high."

And Objective Fiction's CCO, Ben Farrell added, "We're delighted and grateful that Shane, Damian and Kate have given us the opportunity to tell the whole Witless story. Had things ended with series two, it would have been like getting to the end of a novel and finding the last chapter missing. We hope the audience enjoy the exciting, rollercoaster end to the story."

The 5x25 series was commissioned by Damian Kavanagh, Controller BBC Three, Gregor Sharp and Kate Daughton, Commissioning Editors, BBC Comedy.

The series will be produced by Objective Fiction, part of Objective Media Group. Charlotte Lewis and Andrew Chaplin return as Producer and Director (respectively) and Executive Producers are Ben Farrell, Joe Tucker and Lloyd Woolf.

(MH)