Future of Danny Dyer’s Sky comedy revealed after huge success in hilarious new role
NOT everything Danny Dyer has touched since he left EastEnders has turned to gold, but Sky comedy Mr Bigstuff is one of the rare examples.
I can reveal that the show, which dropped earlier this year, has been greenlit for a second season after the first proved a hit.
In fact, it was Sky Max’s highest-rated new original comedy in three years, which convinced bosses we needed another helping.
A TV insider said: “Danny seems to have found his niche playing a rough-round-the-edges geezer in an out-and-out comedy show.
“He always said when he quit the BBC One soap that he felt there was one defining role that had so far eluded him.
“Maybe he’s finally found that part on Mr Bigstuff. Sky execs certainly seem very impressed.”
The comedy follows carpet salesman Glen, played by Ryan Sampson, who also writes the show. He has to cope with the sudden arrival of his estranged, wayward brother Lee, played by Danny.
The actor, best known for his time as Mick Carter on EastEnders, said: “I thought, oh wow, this is totally different from the character of Mick, and something that people have never really seen me do before.
“This is a joy. To be on a set where everyone’s laughing, it’s a different kind of energy. I would love to push it further, this comedy thing, if I get an opportunity.”
The first series has just ended on a cliffhanger — and Ryan says of the follow-up: “Filthy secrets, dirty lies. Someone’s gonna have to come clean.”
Filming for the second series will start later this year in London and Essex and is set to launch on Sky and NOW in 2025.
Mask me another Gemma
THE swinging Sixties sparked some wild fashion choices – and Gemma Arterton certainly embraces them here in scenes from the second series of Funny Woman.
Gemma is reprising her role as sitcom actress Sophie Straw in the Sky Max show following its debut run last year.
Dressed in all black with a matching eye mask, it looks like she’s got the memo for “sexy burglar” at a raunchy party.
Season two sees Sophie Straw balance her career in the male-dominated sitcom industry of the 1960s and a budding romance with Dennis Mahindra, played by Arsher Ali.
Sophie is flying, as she’s caught the attention of a Hollywood agent.
But the good times don’t last long as her new sitcom flops and she uncovers a devastating family secret.
The comedy, which kicks off tomorrow night and also airs on NOW, also sees Gemma credited as executive producer.
She clearly has a say with the wardrobe team, too.
Lovely lineup
A GANG of brilliant women will feature in new Channel 5 drama The Wives.
Angela Griffin, Jo Joyner, Tamzin Outhwaite and Annabelle Morgan have joined forces for the six-part crime thriller, which follows four sisters-in-law on holiday in Malta.
It begins on September 16.
Romesh on love woes
COMEDIAN Romesh Ranganathan has been surprisingly candid about his marriage to wife Leesa.
He told Gabby Logan on her The Mid Point podcast: “If I’m completely honest there have been hard times in our relationship.
“We stopped investing in our relationship – this is going ‘fine’, we don’t argue but ‘going fine’ isn’t good enough, you’re not having a relationship.
“There have been times when we’ve been in a relationship in name only.”
The two of them are determined to work at it, but Romesh added: “We’ve also said to each other, ‘If you feel that walking away from this is the thing that’ll make you happy, I will always love you, but if your happiness is away from this then that’s fine’.”
Cast call
JOANNA Scanlan, Alex Jennings and Eanna Hardwicke will join the cast of Prime Video’s A Very Royal Scandal, about Prince Andrew’s interview with Emily Maitlis.
Starring Michael Sheen as the prince and Ruth Wilson as Emily, the drama lands on September 19.