大象传媒

Returning Programmes

The 大象传媒 has today unveiled a three-part plan designed to significantly improve representation of - and opportunities for - disabled people on and off air.

Published: 3 December 2019

大象传媒 Elevate - Progressing disabled talent in TV production

The A Word

The A Word - Peter Bowker’s much loved family drama - is returning for a third series on 大象传媒 One.

As Joe (Max Vento) and his family navigate Paul (Lee Ingleby) and Alison’s (Morven Christie) divorce, Joe’s autism creates challenges as the family adjust.

Joining them at the heart of this series are four actors with disabilities, whose stories explore the experiences of young disabled adults seeking to live independent lives, both in the workplace and at home.

Leon Harrop returns as Ralph, whose surprise engagement comes as a shock to his mother Louise (Pooky Quesnel), and her partner Maurice (Christopher Eccleston). Ralph’s fiancée Katie is played by Sarah Gordy, star of the celebrated play Jellyfish, which transferred to the National Theatre after a sell-out run at The Bush. Both actors have Down’s Syndrome - and impeccable comic timing - and are joined by Joe Sproulle as Ralph’s best man, for what promises to be the most joyful and explosive family wedding of the year.

Joining them is Travis Smith, who returns as autistic teenager Mark, working at the gastro-pub for Paul. He confides in Paul his desire to join the army, and the story explores the challenges that his autism presents to following his dreams.

  • The A Word is a Fifty Fathoms Productions and Keshet Productions UK production for 大象传媒 One. Executive Producers are Lucy Richer for 大象传媒, Patrick Spence, Peter Bowker and Marcus Wilson for Fifty Fathoms Productions, and Howard Burch, Avi Nir and Keren Margalit for Keshet International. Clare Shepherd is producing and Fergus O'Brien is the lead Director.

Jerk 2 (大象传媒 Three)

大象传媒 Arts: Monologues (w/t)

Disabled writer and actor, Mat Fraser (pictured above) curates a series of ambitious and challenging monologues, all performed by someone with a disability.

Each 15-minute monologue will capture a pivotal moment or event that forever changes the central character. It will also challenge the idea that there is any such thing as ‘normal’.

Using the model of the successful Queers and the Bafta-nominated Snatches (The Observer review described them as 'genius'), Mat Fraser will find experienced award-winning writers and performers and also emerging talent.

The monologues will be fiction but they will be based on factual research and lived experience and they will span the last 50 years of British History.

Mat Fraser says: "I’m thrilled to be curating this exciting, surprising, and revealing series of monologues around the disabled experience, for the 大象传媒. Disabled voices have been shut out of mainstream TV drama for too long, and this is a chance to showcase some of the wonderful, inventive, funny, dramatic, sexy, and searing potential available."

  • Monologues (w/t) 6x15 were commissioned by Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor 大象传媒 Four and Lamia Dabboussy, Executive Editor for 大象传媒 Arts and are being made by 大象传媒 Studios where the Executive Producer is Debbie Christie.

Alex Brooker - Disability and Me

Following the critically-acclaimed and award-winning first series, Tim Renkow is back. Having been previously forced to return to the US, he’s now enrolled himself on a post graduate course in London. Not that he has any intention of actually going. But a student visa means he can stay in the UK - where he intends to wreak more havoc. Milking the discomfort his cerebral palsy creates in others, and pushing the boundaries of what he can get away with for his own amusement.

Ash Atalla, Executive Producer and Roughcut TV MD, says: “We’ve tried really hard to get rid of Tim Renkow. Unfortunately Jerk has been recommissioned and we now have to continue working with the self-proclaimed genius that he is. You can’t win them all.”

Mat Steiner, Executive Producer and MD of Primal, adds: “It’s great that there is a still space on British TV where being a Jerk can be rewarded. We are delighted!”  

Kate Daughton, Head of 大象传媒 Comedy, says: “We’re delighted to welcome back Tim Renkow’s outrageously funny Jerk for a second series. Tim has a unique voice and an ability to take down his targets like no one else. We can’t wait to see who he sets his sights on next.”

The series piloted as A Brief History Of Tim in 大象传媒 Three’s 2016 Comedy Feeds, showcasing emerging new talent, before its first series was commissioned and aired in 2019. Series one won a MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Award for its representation of disability and was described by Ian Hyland as "the sharpest new comedy I have watched in years" in a 5* Daily Mirror review. 

Jerk series two will film in 2020 and be a 大象传媒 Three boxset on 大象传媒 iPlayer. It will also air on 大象传媒 One.

  • Jerk (4x22’) is written by Shaun Pye and Tim Renkow, and is a co-production between Roughcut TV and Primal Media for 大象传媒 Three. It has been recommissioned by Shane Allen, Controller of 大象传媒 Comedy, and Fiona Campbell, Controller of 大象传媒 Three. The Executive Producers are Ash Atalla and Alex Smith for Roughcut TV, and Mat Steiner for Primal Media. It is produced by Roughcut’s Rebecca Murrell, and the Commissioning Editor for 大象传媒 Comedy is Alex Moody.

There She Goes

Based on the real life experiences of writer Shaun Pye, whose daughter was born with an extremely rare and, to date, undiagnosed chromosomal disorder, There She Goes follows the day to day life of a severely learning disabled girl Rosie (Miley Locke), her dad Simon (David Tennant), mum Emily (Jessica Hynes) and brother Ben (Edan Hayhurst). Jessica Hynes recently won a Bafta for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme for her role in the show.

Series One which debuted on 大象传媒 Four last year chronicled the dual timeline of Rosie as a newborn and age nine. The new series will be set around 18 months on and will focus on Rosie at the ages of three and 11.

  • The 5x30' series was commissioned by Shane Allen, Controller Comedy Commissioning and Patrick Holland, Controller, 大象传媒 Two. Written and created by Shaun Pye, There She Goes is a Merman production. The Executive Producers for Merman are Clelia Mountford and Sharon Horgan. The Commissioning Editor for the 大象传媒 is Alex Moody.

The Invictus Games

大象传媒 One will yet again bring viewers coverage of the fifth edition of the Invictus Games held in 2020.

The Hague in the Netherlands will host more than 500 wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women who use sport as a central part of their recovery process.

The 大象传媒’s eight days of coverage will combine coverage of the sporting competition in The Hague but also tell the stories of the participants and their families both on film and in the studio.

The 大象传媒’s coverage of the Invictus Games is produced by 大象传媒 Studios Factual Entertainment and Events for 大象传媒 One. The 大象传媒 Studios Executive Producer is Michael Cole, the Series Producer is Catherine Stirk, and Sarah Clay is the Commissioning Editor for 大象传媒 Entertainment.