'Humour was the only thing that helped me through grief'

Lucia Keskin on her new BBC sitcom Things You Should Have Done

Lucia Keskin, the comedian and actress who found online fame with her YouTube channel Chi With A C and played Kelly in Channel 4 comedy Big Boys, has written a new BBC Three sitcom, Things You Should Have Done, in which she also stars. Here she talks about the show:

Tell us about your new series…

It’s a mental show about a girl who has to try and cope with life now her parents are dead and can’t do everything for her, she desperately leans on the family she has left and sort of forces her way into people’s lives.

How would you best describe your character Chi?

She definitely sees the best in everyone, no one can ever really offend or annoy her. Mainly because she’s unintentionally annoying others.

How much of the series is based on your experiences?

I’d like to say it’s nothing like my real life, but of course there are some elements that are similar, for example I also have zero GCSEs like Chi! But it’s 98 per cent fictional.

What inspired you to write the show?

Two years ago I lost my Grandad who was my best friend and like a father to me. He got me into my love of comedy in the first place. It was the first time I’d ever properly experienced grieving and how awful it really is. Humour was sort of the only thing that helped me through it, so when I met with [executive producer] Steve Monger I said that I wanted to write something that touched on grief and the surreal side of it.

Tell us about the writing process?

It was hard! Steve basically taught me everything in terms of the process and breaking everything down. I thought you just picked up a pen and wrote a whole show but turns out it’s a lot better when you plan it first! Thank God for Steve.

What’s been your favourite part of the process?

Honestly just learning so much at every stage. I think getting to work with such a great team has been the best. [Production company] Roughcut have done so much for me and I’m very grateful for the support they give.

Do you have any favourite memories from filming?

It’s so hard to pick a favourite but I think a definite favourite was when me and Jamie Bisping were filming a scene for episode 4 where we were watching the bananas and waiting for them to go ripe; we started improvising and could not get through it without making each other laugh.

How was filming with your cast mates? Have you worked with any of them before?

I’d not worked with any of them before but it was a dream working with such talented and funny people. I think I’ve definitely made friends for life (they better have said the same!)

• Things You Should Have Done launches on BBC Three next Thursday – February 29 – at 9pm.

Thanks for reading. If you find Chortle’s coverage of the comedy scene useful or interesting, please consider supporting us with a monthly or one-off ko-fi donation.

Any money you contribute will directly fund more reviews, interviews and features – the sort of in-depth coverage that is increasingly difficult to fund from ever-squeezed advertising income, but which we think the UK’s vibrant comedy scene deserves.

Subscribe or donate here

Published: 21 Feb 2024