David Tennant and Michael Sheen comedy returns – this time to Britbox

David Tennant and Michael Sheen have secretly made a third series of Staged – which will be released next week.

The new episodes have never been announced as being in production, but today the streaming service Britbox has announced that they will be dropping on the platform next Thursday

Staged started as a lockdown series for BBC One in 2020, with fictionalised versions of the stars interacting over Zoom as they rehearsed for a play.

An even more self-referential second series last year revolved around show creator Simon ​Evans working on a US version of Staged, but with Tennant and Sheen not asked to reprise their roles

The actors’ partners, Georgia Tennant and Anna Lundberg, also starred in the series, and are both back for series three.

According to the logline for the new episodes: ‘Things have returned to normal for David and Michael. They have moved on from lockdown and returned to their everyday working life, while Simon’s career remains stagnant.

‘His phone does ring, but only to ask if he can get David and Michael back together; and they’ve made it clear they want nothing more to do with him. But Christmas is approaching, and Simon hopes the warmth of the season might soften them to the idea of a radio version of a Christmas classic...but that’s as far as Simon’s plan has got.’

Britbox, which costs £5.99 a month, will also be hosting the first two series of Staged next week, as well as a new behind-the-scenes special.

That promises ‘not only mistakes and outtakes but it also shows how the show itself was found. From experiments in how to film the show to playing with the idea of who and what the characters would be, it's a unique look back at a unique show produced at the most unique of times.’

Evans – who created the show with Phin Glynn – last year expressed caution about returning to Staged for a third series, telling the Radio Times: 'I’ve seen enough things try to outstay their welcome, so the last thing I would want to do is to damage what I’m really proud [of]... so I wouldn’t want to risk that.'

Meanwhile, Sheen has  made headlines this week for slamming the Prince of Wales' for supporting England at the forthcoming World Cup in Qatar, rather than backing Wales.

He said William's message of support to the England squad – in which he told them 'the country is behind you' – was 'entirely inappropriate'.

The Newport-born actor tweeted on Tuesday: 'He can, of course, support whoever he likes and as President of FA his role makes visit understandable - but surely he sees holding the title Prince of Wales at same time is entirely inappropriate? Not a shred of embarrassment? Or sensitivity to the problem here?'

Published: 16 Nov 2022