New Sitcom for Sky One

Sky 1 is hoping for comedy success with a new six part sitcom, The Cafe, written by Ralf Little and Michelle Terry.

The half hour show is set in and around a café in Weston-Super-Mare run by generational trilogy Mary (June Watson), Carol (Ellie Haddington) and Sarah (Michelle Terry). Acting as the social hub of the seafront town, the café sees all walks of life pass through and Sky say it will give viewers an honest portrayal of life in a typical British seaside resort.

Lucy Lumsden, Head of Comedy, Sky commented: “It’s been a delight to give new writers like Ralf and Michelle the chance to shine on Sky 1HD. We look forward to welcoming you in to The Cafe with its amazing cast and stunning direction from the multi-talented Craig Cash.”

The storyline follows Sarah who is in her late twenties and has recently returned home from London as she attempts to pursue a writing career. Many of her old school adversaries still live in the area and are frequent visitors to the café. Richard (Ralf Little), Sarah’s former childhood sweetheart is a care home assistant by day and a musician by night whose feathers are ruffled when fellow class-mate and former love rival, John (Daniel Ings), now a successful events manager in London, returns to Weston to visit his elderly mother. Chloe (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) is Sarah’s oldest friend who works in the local hairdresser and always looks on the bright side of life. Her father, Stan (David Troughton) is a frequent visitor to the café due in the most part to his fondness for Carol. Carol, however, has more pressing matters on her mind as Brenda Keily (Seeta Indrani), a local successful entrepreneur threatens to take her family business away.

Executive Producer, Craig Cash says: “It’s great to be working with Lucy Lumsden again. Sky has shown an unswerving commitment to this project, and our vision for it. Working with these writers, this script and this team has been a joy. A joy we hope to pass on the audience very soon.”

Also resident in Weston-Super-Mare are Ava (Carolin Stoltz), the polish receptionist at the hairdresser and The Dobsons, regular customers at the cafe played by Brian Murphy and Marcia Warren. Other regulars who drop by include ‘Big Issue Frank’ (Jack Roth) and Weston-Super-Mare’s very own living statue, Keiran (Kevin Trainor).

The Cafe is part of Sky’s commitment to increase its investment in original British content by 50% over the next three years. By 2014, Sky expects to invest £600 million a year in British programmes across its portfolio of channels. The sitcom will air later this year.