Brian Cox, Jonathan Watson, Ron Donachie, and others are to star in a brand new three-part television series, Bob Servant Independent, for BBC Four later this year.
Set in Dundee, this new comedy originated from the radio comedy ‘The Bob Servant Emails’ and the bestselling Bob Servant books.
Brian Cox today said: “As a Dundee man I am very excited to be filming a brand new television comedy set in Broughty Ferry. With the comic writing skills of fellow Dundonian, Neil Forsyth, and the audacious spirit of Bob Servant it shouldn’t fail to capture the very essence of the unique East Coast humour.”
The Scottish town of Broughty Ferry doesn’t know what’s hit it. The sudden death of the sitting MP has resulted in a by-election that could change the political map of the UK. Bob Servant (Brian Cox) has been waiting his whole life for this level of attention and he’s willing to do anything to keep it.
Bob sells himself as a man of the people but doesn’t really like people. He also has absolutely no understanding of the political process and uses the by-election campaign as a heaven sent opportunity for self-promotion.
His campaign manager is Frank (Jonathan Watson), Bob’s long suffering best friend and neighbour, and their love-hate relationship is a central aspect of ‘Bob Servant Independent’.
As the series progresses, Bob has an increasingly fractious relationship with the favourite to win the seat, a slick professional politician called Nick Edwards (Rufus Jones). Bob also struggles to deal with Edwards’ campaign manager (and wife), Philippa Edwards (Pollyanna McIntosh), a smart, no-nonsense woman, always two steps ahead of Frank.
The Bob Servant Emails first transmitted on BBC Radio Scotland in October 2010 and has also been heard across the UK on BBC Radio Four. It will be filmed on location in Broughty Ferry in Dundee.
Writer and creator of ‘Bob Servant Independent’, Neil Forsyth, added: “It’s hugely exciting that Bob is making it onto the telly, and that Brian is once again involved and leading a brilliant cast. He’s been a supporter of the Bob Servant cause for a long time and I can’t wait to see him stride about Broughty Ferry in character. To be honest, Bob would probably be disappointed that he’s been overlooked to play himself, but even he would reluctantly accept Brian taking up the challenge.”
