Six-part series follows a Comedy Blap last year

Rosie Jones is to star in a new six-part Channel 4 comedy called Disability Benefits.

The commission of six half-hour episodes, announced at the Edinburgh Television Festival, comes after the idea was piloted as a Comedy Blap last year.

Jones, who wrote the script with Peter Fellows, said: ‘I am incredibly excited to be making Disability Benefits for Channel 4. It has always been my dream to have my own sitcom and now it is coming true! Bring it on!’

The series follows Emily (Jones) whose state benefits are cut to shreds after being made redundant. With very little left to lose begins to build an illegal drugs empire, bur, programme makers say, ‘She is not your average street-dealing dope peddler – she’s sharp, funny, biting, highly educated – and on top of all that, she has cerebral palsy.’

Charlie Perkins, head of comedy for Channel 4 says: ‘Rosie is a national treasure at Channel 4, with her distinctively funny and powerful work felt across all genres. So making her first sitcom  is the perfect next step for this special force of nature.’

The show is being made by Merman Television and 2LE Media. Merman’s Clelia Mountford, said: ‘Rosie has a truly unique voice and storytelling ability, alongside impeccable comedic timing, and we are proud to be working with her on her first scripted TV project.’

Tom Thostrup, managing director of 2LE added: ‘Rosie exudes big criminal mastermind energy in real life so we’re very excited about working with her to bring that to the screen in Disability Benefits.’

Sharon Horgan will also be one of the executive producers for Merman Television.

» Read our four-star review of the original Blap

Published: 24 Aug 2023