Television icon Dawn French has revealed the personal and professional motivations behind her request to film her latest BBC comedy series in Cornwall.
A Personal Plea for Cornish Filming
The star, best known for her legendary role in The Vicar of Dibley, spoke candidly about her conditions for taking on the new six-part sitcom, Can You Keep a Secret?. French explained that from the outset, she told writer Simon Mayhew-Archer she would happily do the show, but only if it was set near her home in Cornwall.
"I'll happily do a sitcom, but we need to set it down here near where I live," French stated. Her reasons were twofold: to bring more production work to the Cornish region and to be close to her family for logistical ease during filming.
The Plot and The Payout
In the series, which premieres on Wednesday, January 7 at 9.30pm on BBC One and iPlayer, French plays Debbie Fendon. Debbie is a grandmother, lawn bowler, and self-styled family dictator who goes to extreme lengths to protect her kin.
The plot kicks off when her reclusive husband William, portrayed by Mark Heap, is mistakenly pronounced dead. Spotting a golden opportunity, the pensioner couple decide to hide William in the attic to claim a life insurance payout, dreaming of a tranquil retirement. Their anxious son Harry, played by Craig Roberts, who is married to a police officer, finds the secret arrangement overwhelmingly stressful.
A 'Lovely Gang' on Location
While the writer agreed to French's Cornish setting idea, practical production needs meant filming ultimately took place near Bristol, for its studio facilities. This meant the cast and crew, including French, were working away from home.
French reflected positively on this, noting that "the cast and crew become your new family" when on location. She praised the entire team, from camera and sound to drivers and caterers, calling them a "particularly lovely gang" who were all invested in the intriguing story.
The central question of the series remains: can Debbie and her family maintain their massive secret, or will the truth inevitably come out?
