With Plebs star Ryan Sampson

Danny Dyer is to star in a new comedy about masculinity, written by Plebs star Ryan Sampson

In Mr Bigstuff, they play estranged brothers Glen (Sampson) a nervy perfectionist striving to live the suburban ideal and Lee (Dyer) an alpha male with a prescription drug addiction and a biscuit tin full of his Dad’s ashes.

It is the first regular scripted comedy role for Dyer, who previously made a guest appearance as a Gladiator in Plebs.

He said:  ‘Following my nutty exit from Eastenders I feel like it’s time to recalibrate and try something a bit new.

‘When I read the role of Lee, I was honoured to be asked to develop an exciting character and explore his dysfunctional fucked up family relationships.

‘I fell in love with Ryan Sampson while working with him on Plebs. I can’t wait to get involved with his incredible writing’.

The six-part series starts with Glen and his fiancée sharing a perfectly mundane life together,,until Lee comes crashing into their lives, while on the run from a past that’s catching up with him. The trio are forced to live together under the same roof in an Essex cul-de-sac: a perfectionist, a fantasist and an anarchist.

Sampson said: ‘As a particularly short gay dude, I’m fascinated by masculinity; by all the ways that we’re trying and failing to do it right.

‘Maybe it’s because of some unresolved short-man issues. Maybe it’s because of that one time in PE when Mr Walker told me to "stop crying and start being a man, Sampson".

‘I probably should have gotten therapy, but instead I’ve written a show about it. It’s about fragile masculinity - about men and how fucked up we are.

‘Also about families, and how fucked up they are too. I can’t believe how lucky I am in having Danny Dyer himself joining me for the ride.’

Made by: Sky Studios and Water & Power Productions
Executive producers:  Anil Gupta and Jon Mountague for Sky; Tom Miller and Sam Myer for Water & Power
Producer: Hayley Sterling from Sky Studios

Published: 2 Feb 2023