SHEDITES: CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR NEW BBC COMEDY FROM MRS BROWN BOY'S BRENDAN O'CARROLL AS FILMING BEGINS

Filming has begun on BBC One and iPlayer’s brand new comedy special Shedites, created and written by Paddy Houlihan, set in and around the men’s shed in a village in Ireland.

Made by BBC Studios Comedy and starring Brendan O’Carroll (Mrs Brown’s Boys), Phil Davis (Trying), Simon Delaney (Lockerbie), Danny O’Carroll (Mrs Brown’s Boys), Shane Casey (The Young Offenders), Paddy Houlihan (Mrs Brown’s Boys) and Deirdre O’Kane (Moone Boy), Shedites will be part of the BBC’s festive offering this Christmas.

Shedites is about a place where men can make themselves useful building and repairing things, and along the way find company through unlikely friendships, a sense of purpose, and a mug of strong tea.

The half hour comedy sees Jimmy (Brendan O’Carroll), Harry (Phil Davis), Gavin (Simon Delaney), Cheesy (Danny O’Carroll), Paul (Shane Casey) and Paddy the Liar (Paddy Houlihan) set out to build a new bike from recycled parts to try and win the local “Santa Spin” race. If they succeed, it’ll be a rare triumph for the lads. And if they don’t, Councillor Orla (Deirde O’Kane) will make sure they hear about it.

Paddy Houlihan says: “It’s a privilege to see actors I’ve admired for years bring real depth to characters that began in my imagination. Alongside a crew who’ve poured skill and graft into every frame, they’ve taken what was on the page and lifted it to the screen with humour, honesty, and heart. Watching Shedites come to life has been a surreal experience.”

Brendan O’Carroll says: “It’s inspiring and exciting to be filming Shedites. I saw this as a germ of an idea in Paddy’s head. To see it come to fruition is everything his talent deserves.”

Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy says: "Paddy has a real feel for character-led humour that properly lands. Shedites is a warm, charming and funny comedy special that should deliver a shed full of laughs."

Steven Canny, Executive Producer for BBC Studios Comedy, says: “Paddy is a true original – a seasoned comic performer with a brilliant instinct for dialogue and a fantastic grasp of comic storytelling. We’re delighted to be entering the shed and introducing the audience to the wonderful range of characters he’s created.”

Shedites is made by BBC Studios Comedy (1 x 30) in partnership with BOC-PIX for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.