I do like BBC3’s approach to experimental comedy drama, so when I was offered a sneaky preview at their latest offering I jumped at the chance.
Dappers is about a couple of single mothers living in Bristol surviving on benefits. Constantly trying to come up with get rich quick schemes; Ashley and Faye; played by Lenora Crichlow (Being Human) and Ty Glaser (Emmerdale) live in council owned properties in a well-to-do part of town.
Despite the fact that the pair are “like Del Boy and Rodders in thongs”; a phrase that could depress the very soul of happiness personified; the show is being billed as “a cheerful poke in the eye to all the negativity that surrounds single-mums.”
Jealous of their smug neighbours; Ben (Darren Boyd, Smack the Pony) and Anna (Olivia Poulet, The Thick of It); who seemingly have it all; the mothers struggle to cope with their looser love interests; the Marco (Tom Ellis, Miranda) a wannabe nightclub impresario and Ryan (newcomer, Jack Ashton) who’s half a step from a stretch; trying to make ends meet with crack pot schemes whilst looking after toddlers Angel and Daisy. Not able to afford even a can of WD40, Faye has to suffer a creaky jacket throughout.
The writer and exec producer Catherine Johnson (the writer of Mamma Mia!) says “I wanted to write about living in a housing association flat and being a single parent, but I wanted to do it in a way that wasn’t grim and all about poverty. The idea of doing it as a comedy drama, very much in the mould of Gavin and Stacey, really appealed to me.” The show’s squarely aimed at the audience of nice-comedy appreciators that Gavin and Stacey left behind. The pilot episode features something that even the most cynical of viewers will be pursuaded by. Pugs. Poor pugs, they’re the butt of every joke.
This pilot looks like it has real potential for development. The female led writing and makes it a welcome change and the strong cast and the unique storyline can only work in it’s favour.
Watch Dappers on BBC3 on the 10th June at 9:30pm