Filming begins on new BBC One sitcom Woody

Filming has begun on BBC One’s new comedy Woody, starring Kayvan Novak and Bradley Walsh.

Created and written by Neil Webster and Charlie Skelton, whose credits include Would I Lie To You, 10 O’Clock Live and C4 Comedy Presents: Them From That Thing, the series comprises 6 x 30 minute episodes to air in spring 2015.

Set on a fictional Spanish island, Kayvan Novak plays the titular role of Woody, an undercover reporter who is forced to flee from the British authorities after being framed by his corrupt newspaper editor. Woody goes on the run to find Brutus (Walsh), his former mentor at the newspaper and the one man he can trust.

But Brutus, who is now an expatriate living a quiet life running a bar on a Spanish island, is less than thrilled to see Woody. Despite their efforts to lay low, trouble seems to find them, so Brutus and Woody end up joining forces to take on a series of investigations, crimes and mysteries, seeing Woody running rings around the locals by adopting a variety of guises at a moment’s notice.

Woody boasts an impressive cast. Joining Kayvan and Bradley will be Emma Pierson (Up The Women, Hotel Babylon), Jamie Demetriou (The Midnight Beast, Scrotal Recall), Keith Allen (The Comic Strip, Robin Hood) and Alan Williams (Starlings).

There’s also cameo appearances from Lee Boardman (Great Night Out, Drop Dead Gorgeous), Clive Swift (Keeping Up Appearances), Alex Kirk (Mount Pleasant), Tracy Ann Oberman (EastEnders, Friday Night Dinner) Jack Dee (Lead Balloon), Kara Tointon (EastEnders), Simon Day (The Life Of Rock with Brian Pern, The Fast Show), Cavan Clerkin (Pulling, The Inbetweeners), Paul Kaye (Game Of Thrones), Sean Gilder (Shameless) and Morgana Robinson (House Of Fools, The Morgana Show).

Shane Allen, Controller of BBC Comedy Commissioning, says: “Bradley Walsh is at full comedy tilt in these knockabout crime capers, and alongside Kayvan Novak’s powerhouse of comic versatility they finally solve the mystery of why there hasn’t been a show like this before.”

Kayvan Novak adds: “So here I am in the sun, solving crimes and pretending to be a pirate, a hypnotist and a lady croupier. I thought life couldn’t get any better. Then I saw Bradley Walsh drive by on a jet ski wearing nothing but a dressing gown. I love this place.”

Bradley Walsh says: “My goodness, what a blast it is filming Woody. With a very funny script, brilliant cameos from the likes of Keith Allen and Paul Kaye as Señor Big and Frederico Mercury, what’s not to like! I’m loving every second working with the brilliant Kayvan Novak, it’s a hoot from dawn to dusk.”