大象传媒

November 13 2020

Following the success of Welsh sitcom The Tuckers in 2020, Steve Speirs announced on the Aled Jones programme on 大象传媒 Radio Wales that a further two series have been commissioned by 大象传媒 Wales.

The Steve Speirs-penned comedy series follows the fortunes of the Tucker family, a close-knit extended family of ‘loveable rogues’ who earn their living in a number of ways - many of which are on ‘the wrong side of the law’.

The series features a stellar all-Welsh cast alongside Steve Speirs (Stella, Upstart Crow, Pirates Of The Caribbean) including much-respected actress Lynn Hunter (Baker Boys, Stella), Robert Pugh (Game Of Thrones), Kimberley Nixon (Fresh Meat) and Alexandria Riley (Channel 4’s The End Of The F***ing World and BAFTA Cymru winning drama series In My Skin).

Steve Speirs says “I am so thrilled that The Tuckers is coming back for two more series. It’s a testament to the ongoing support from 大象传媒 Wales and the amazing fans who took the show to their hearts so quickly and in big numbers.

“People can expect to get to know the family a lot better: Their lives, their loves, their fears. There’ll be a bit of heartache for them along the way no doubt, but mainly laughs. I think that’s what we need right now. Laughs. And Lots of them!”

Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning for 大象传媒 Wales says, “Just like all fans of The Tuckers, we wanted to see more of them. It’s a warm, genuinely funny comedy that’s firmly rooted in Wales but has also been enjoyed extensively across the UK via iPlayer. Series 2 should have been filming this summer but quite rightly that couldn’t happen. Commissioning two further series at the same time demonstrates 大象传媒 Wales’ real commitment to backing brilliant projects developed by home-grown Welsh talent.”

Series two and three of The Tuckers will be produced in Wales by 大象传媒 Studios and filming will take place in summer 2021.

January 10 2020

The Tuckers is a six-part sit-com series for 大象传媒 One Wales. Originally commissioned as a pilot as part of 大象传媒 Wales’ first ever comedy season Festival of Funny in November 2018, it was a labour of love for the show’s writer and creator Steve Speirs who drew on his childhood in Troedyrhiw, Merthyr Tydfil for the inspiration, and will be on our screens from Friday, 10th January 2020. Steve Spiers said: “[The idea for the programme has] been floating around for a long time. They’re characters that have been with me since childhood in many ways [...] I spent a lot of time in the valleys as I got older and I just loved their turn of phrase and the sharpness of wit - it’s in the DNA of the vocabulary.”

The series features a stellar all-Welsh cast including Steve Spiers who also wrote the programme, much-respected actress Lynn Hunter, Robert Pugh of Game of Thrones and Fresh Meat star, Kimberley Nixon.

Creator Steve Speirs believes the all-Welsh cast was essential to the making of The Tuckers:

"Casting an all-Welsh cast for The Tuckers was absolutely vital. Everything would have fallen apart if that wasn’t the case. We were very lucky to find the right people for the series and that just shows the depth of talent there is in Wales. The mixture of experienced actors and some new faces makes the series work so well."

The series follows the fortunes of the Tucker family, a close-knit extended family of ‘loveable rogues’ who earn their living in a number of ways – many of which are on ‘the wrong side of the law’.

Glyn Tucker (Steve Speirs) lives with his mother Peggy (Lynn Hunter) and his two sons Billy (Joshua McCord) and Bobby Tucker (Ben McGregor). The multigenerational family are constantly looking for ways to bring in more money via their ‘legitimate’ catering business whether it’s selling ‘premium’ wine or furniture removal.

Money is tight, their tempers are short and a brush with the local constabulary is never too far away.

The series examines the love/hate relationship between members of the clan, ultimately proving that blood is thicker than water.

Lynn Hunter, who plays Peggy Tucker, believes the series and the family will relate to the audience in a number of ways. Her character, Peggy is the backbone of the Tucker family and believes the audience will recognise the character in their everyday lives:

“Peggy represents all those matriarchs of the valleys. I was born and bred in the valleys, in Merthyr Tydfil, and it’s a very matriarchal society where the men think they’re in charge, but the people who do all the work and hold everything together are the women!”