The BBC has confirmed that Greg Davies' sitcom The Cleaner will return with a one-off Christmas special later this year. Filming has already begun on the episode, titled The Cleaner in Italy.
Plot and Setting
The special follows Wicky, played by Davies, as he reluctantly joins his girlfriend Ruth on a hiking holiday in the Italian Dolomites with her friends. After an accident, he ends up alone in a remote mountain hotel, where his boredom turns to paranoia as he encounters an eccentric hotel manager, peculiar guests, and suspicious staff.
The BBC teased: "The hit comedy once again follows Wicky's misadventures as a state-certified cleaning technician whose unusual day job involves scrubbing away the grisliest remnants of crime scenes."
Cast and Production
Alongside Greg Davies, the cast includes Robert Webb, Peter Serafinowicz, Kevin Eldon, Tori Allen-Martin, Veronica Ferres, Zita Sattar, Milanka Brooks, and Dylan Blore. Vivien Muller-Rommel serves as executive producer.
Davies said: "I think Wicky has got to the stage in life where he only likes three things: his job, going to the pub and beer. To get the opportunity to force him to go to Italy on a hiking holiday is the perfect opportunity to test his breaking point. I can't wait to show everyone how horribly wrong a holiday can go…"
Muller-Rommel added: "We're absolutely delighted to be back with Greg, our brilliant guest cast and our fantastic crew for this very special episode of The Cleaner. There's a real excitement about this one, and everyone involved is determined to make it our funniest adventure yet. We can't wait for audiences to see it."
Fan Reception
Fans have previously hailed The Cleaner as a "perfect British comedy". One viewer wrote: "Haven't laughed so much in a long time. Just happened upon this little gem. Was in stitches within minutes…brilliant!" Another said: "The Cleaner is unexpectedly quirky and original. I have never seen anything like it. I laughed so hard that I had to pause the show to collect myself as I was losing the dialogue. Greg Davies is a comic genius."
Ben Caudell, commissioning editor for the BBC, said: "As filming begins on this new The Cleaner special, it's a pleasure to see Greg Davies return to one of his most memorable creations. Wicky has become a standout character in British comedy, and Greg's ability to place him in extraordinary situations is always a delight. This one-off episode brings together a terrific cast and an inventive new setting, and we're very much looking forward to sharing it with viewers over the festive period."
Where to Watch
The Cleaner is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. The Christmas special will air later this year on BBC.
