Dawn French and Mark Heap to Star in New BBC Sitcom Can You Keep a Secret?

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

Comedy icons Dawn French (French & Saunders, Delicious) and Mark Heap (Friday Night Dinner, Green Wing) are set to star in Can You Keep a Secret?, a new sitcom coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One. The show was written and created by Simon Mayhew-Archer (This Country, Josh) and directed by Simon Hynd (Ghosts, Motherland). The six-part series was officially announced by Jon Petrie, BBC Comedy Director, at the Edinburgh TV Festival 2024.

Co-produced by Big Talk Studios, Mayhay Studios, and CBS Studios, Can You Keep a Secret? explores the ups and downs of family life, along with some unexpected criminal twists. At the center of the story is Debbie Fenton, played by Dawn French, a protective grandmother and lawn bowler who takes her role in the family very seriously. Unfortunately, Debbie's overprotectiveness often becomes the source of her family's problems.

When her reclusive husband William, played by Mark Heap, is mistakenly declared dead, the couple decides to take advantage of the situation. Instead of correcting the mistake, they choose to hide William in the loft and wait for his life insurance to come through. What begins as a simple plan soon spirals into chaos, turning Debbie and William into an unlikely criminal duo.

Their scheme adds a great deal of stress to their son Harry, who is already juggling the demands of his own young family. With his father unexpectedly back from the dead and his parents engaged in a risky plot, Harry is faced with a host of new challenges. Navigating this absurd situation while managing his role as a father and husband proves to be a daunting task.

Set in the scenic West Country, Can You Keep a Secret? presents a quirky and relatable family comedy that adds a touch of mischief to everyday life. Dawn French's trademark humor, paired with Mark Heap's talent for playing eccentric characters, promises to deliver plenty of laughs.

Dawn French expressed her excitement for the new role, joking, "At last... a sitcom where I can keep my top on... mostly."

Kenton Allen, Executive Producer and CEO of Big Talk Studios, shared his enthusiasm for the project: "Working with Dawn French has been a career-long ambition."

Simon Mayhew-Archer, writer and Executive Producer, added, "Creating this show has been the greatest joy of my career. I'm incredibly grateful to Dawn, Jon, and Tanya for making this possible."

Jon Petrie, BBC Comedy Director, praised the show for its unique mix of classic sitcom humor and a surprising crime twist. "With Dawn French and Mark Heap leading the cast, this is a truly irresistible comedy. I can't wait for viewers to see it."

The six-episode series will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One, with global distribution handled by Paramount Global Content Distribution. Further details, including broadcast dates, will be revealed soon.

Can You Keep a Secret? offers a fresh and funny look at the complexities of family life, mixing everyday mischief with farcical crime, as viewers follow the Fenton family through their unexpected adventures.