Comic to play a neurotic student landlord in Bill's Included

Rob Brydon is to star in a new BBC One sitcom as a middle-aged divorcee who shares his house with students.

Bill’s Included has been written by The Pin duo of  Ben Ashenden and Alexander Owen.

In it, Gavin And Stacey star Brydon takes the role of  Bill Beam (Rob Brydon), who staves off financial ruin by renting his spare rooms. 

He’s described as ‘warm-hearted and eager but neurotic and slightly overbearing; and ‘thrilled by the youthful energy his lodgers bring – but baffled by their indifference to his laminated house rules and colour-coded cutlery. 

Producers Baby Cow say: ‘He’s torn between wanting to be part of the gang - sharing banter, keeping up with trends - and clinging to his role as responsible adult. 

‘The students, meanwhile, aren’t exactly living the dream: a 90-minute commute to campus, a strict bin rota, and a man in his 50s who insists on a group vote before ordering a takeaway. 

‘Still, the rent’s insanely cheap (please don’t tell Bill), and somehow, through all the awkwardness, this chaotic household starts to gel. As Bill and his mismatched lodgers navigate heartbreak, reinvention, and emotional upheaval, surprising parallels emerge between university life and midlife crisis.’

Rob Brydon said: ‘I can't wait to get started with this, to speak the wonderful words written by Alex and Ben who've done such a great job on the script.’

And the writers said in a statement: ‘When we first met as students, we bonded over Human Remains and Marion and Geoff. To now be writing a show in which Rob Brydon ​lives with students is both a dream come true and a weirdly specific full circle moment. 

‘We’re thrilled to be working with the amazing teams at Baby Cow and the BBC and can’t wait to bring Bill Beam to life. Bill’s Included, you’re invited, we’re excited.’

The show was announced at the BBC’s Comedy Festival in Belfast today by Jon Petrie, the broadcaster’s director of comedy.

He said: ‘Rob Brydon has given us some of Britain's most beloved TV characters over the years and we’re about to get another one! 

‘Paired with the razor-sharp writing talent of Ben Ashenden and Alexander Owen, Bill's Included delivers exactly what audiences want - a warm, character-driven sitcom with genuine laughs and heart at its core. We're delighted to have this on BBC iPlayer and BBC One and can't wait for audiences to move in with Bill and his lodgers.’

Baby Cow’s Rupert Majendie, who is an executive producer  of the six-part series, added: ‘From the beginning, we knew this was a show we wanted to make – a perfect sitcom set-up with a sharp, contemporary twist. 

‘With its mix of heart, originality and beautifully observed characters, it feels like a classic Baby Cow show. Ben and Alex have written something properly special, and with Rob at the centre of a brilliant ensemble, we can’t wait to bring it to life’

Made by: Baby Cow
Written by: Ben Ashenden and Alexander Owen
Executive producers: Rupert Majendie, Ben Ashenden, Alexander Owen, Rob Brydon and Tom Basden
Commissioned by: Jon Petrie
Commissioning editors: Ben Caudell and Navi Lamba

Published: 21 May 2025