[Type text] 'JOSH' IS BACK FOR A THIRD SERIES ON BBC THREE THIS AUTUMN Coming to BBC Three, October 2017 6 x 25 min Episodes After a successful second series in 2016, hugely popular stand-up Josh Widdicombe returns for a third series of Josh. Written by Josh Widdicombe and Tom Craine, directed by David Schneider (I'm Alan Partridge and The Death Of Stalin) and produced by Simon Mayhew-Archer from BBC Studios (This Country), the 6 x 25 minute series will debut on BBC Three this October (date to be confirmed). For Josh, the phrase “nice guys finish last” doesn’t quite cover it. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t realise the race has started, hits every hurdle on the way and then gets strangled by the finishing tape. This series follows his successes (not many) and his failures (many) as he tries to navigate the race of life. Whether it’s being dumped whilst dangling on a zip-line, tolerating an egomaniacal fellow comedian on tour or being blackmailed by a septuagenarian next-door neighbour, Josh always tries to do the right thing…and always comes off the loser. Trundling alongside Josh are his loyal flat-mates, Owen (Elis James) and Kate (Beattie Edmondson), closely followed by their remorselessly attentive landlord, Geoff (Jack Dee), a man so unaccustomed to normal social behaviour that he thinks nothing of moving a fully-grown swan into his house. Meanwhile, Owen, a man usually as relaxed as a sloth in a bubble bath, can’t help but “do a Josh” and self-sabotage a burgeoning relationship with X Factor star, Diana Vickers. And then there’s dear Kate, the only person who can take her mother (Jennifer Saunders) to the theatre and end up getting a police caution. Other cast members to appear throughout the series include; Jennifer Saunders (Kate's mum Judith), Diana Vickers (as herself), Scarlet Alice Johnson plus comedians Tom Allen, Ellie Taylor, Cariad Lloyd and Mike Bubbins. [Type text] Production Credits: Production Company - BBC Studios, Writers - Josh Widdicombe and Tom Craine, Director - David Schneider, Producer - Simon Mayhew-Archer, Executive Producer - Stephen McCrum, BBC Commissioning Editor – Shane Allen For further press information and cast/crew interview requests please contact: [email protected] - 07810 238 851 For images please contact - [email protected] Cast and Production Biographies Josh Widdicombe (Josh) : Josh Widdicombe is best known as co-host on the RTS and Broadcast award- winning and double BAFTA nominated The Last Leg (Channel 4) and his hit BBC sitcom Josh. He is never far from our screens having starred in BBC One’s Mock The Week, QI, team captain on BBC Two's Insert Name Here, Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats and Dave’s Taskmaster. After fast establishing himself on the live circuit supporting huge comic talent such as Stephen Merchant, Kevin Bridges, Michael McIntyre and Alan Carr, Josh has gone on to have four sell-out UK tours, two sell- outs runs at the Edinburgh Festival and an Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer nomination. Josh has also released two stand up DVD’s; 2013’s And Another Thing and 2016’s What Do I Do Now… The Last Leg returns to Channel 4 for its twelfth series in September 2017, following two critically acclaimed series earlier in the year, including three extra episodes to cover 2017’s snap general election. 2017 also saw Josh launch Quickly Kevin, will he score? a brand new podcast based on his love of 90’s football, co-hosted by Chris Scull and Michael Marden. Jack Dee (Geoff): Established as one of Britain’s well-loved and biggest comedy stars, Jack Dee has captured the imagination of audiences and critics with his dry humour and deadpan delivery. In 2009, Jack replaced Humphrey Lyttelton as the chairman of the widely adored Radio 4 “antidote to panel games,” I’m Sorry, I Haven’t A Clue. The author of a compelling bestselling autobiography, Thanks for Nothing, Jack has also co-written and starred in four series of the BBC2 sitcom, Lead Balloon. A much loved stand-up, Jack returned to the road after a six-year absence from stand-up with an eighteen- month sell-out tour in 2012/2013 which culminated in the release of his sixth DVD, Jack Dee: So What. 2015 saw Jack host BBC 2’s The Apprentice You’re Fired and star as Geoff in the BBC sitcom JOSH, now returning for its third series in 2017. Last year saw Jack star in the ground-breaking real-time sitcom Power Monkeys for Channel 4 as well as host EU referendum specials of his hit show BBC series Jack Dee’s Help Desk. The series returned in 2017 for two special episodes focused around the US Election and First World Problems. Jack returns to the small screen this autumn in his brand new sitcom Bad Move for ITV1, co-written by Jack and his Lead Balloon writer Pete Sinclair, the series also co-stars Kerry Godliman, Miles Jupp and Seann Walsh. Elis James (Owen): Elis James is a stand-up comedian, radio DJ, writer, actor and football pundit. A natural performer & sharp gagsmith with numerous critically acclaimed solo stand-up shows under his belt, a hugely successful national tour and invitations to perform around the world, Elis James is one of the UK’s top comedy talents. With warm wit and endearing charm, Elis’ talents don’t stop at stand-up. A radio regular, Elis has also written and starred in three series of Elis James’ Pantheon of Heroes, two series of Social Club FM (both [Type text] for BBC Radio Wales) and currently co-hosts Radio X’s Chortle Award Winning Weekend Show with fellow comic John Robins. Late 2016 saw the duo complete a hugely successful national tour The Elis James & John Robins Experience. Elis also chronicled the Welsh football team’s experience at the 2016 European Championships for BBC Wales and BBC Radio 4, and is now a regular contributor on the popular BBC 5Live's Fighting Talk. Elis is also a familiar face across our television screens including appearances on; Mock The Week (BBC Two), 8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4), Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC Three), Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled (Dave) and has some top acting credits including the lead role of Luke for BBC Three sit-com Crims plus three series as Owen in the BBC sitcom 'Josh'. Elis currently has a number of projects in development and will embark on a special Welsh language tour this autumn. Beattie Edmondson (Kate): Beattie Edmonson is a comedy writer-performer, best known as co-lead Kate in BBC sitcom Josh. Beattie will star in her first feature film lead role in a Disney comedy due for release in Summer 2018, after enjoying guest roles in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie and Bridget Jones’s Baby in 2016. Beattie has a high level of improv training with Monkey Toast UK and is one third of sketch group Birthday Girls, alongside Rose Johnson and Camille Ucan. Birthday Girls’ most recent show Sh!t Hot Party Legends enjoyed sell out runs at the 2016 Edinburgh Festival and was extended to London’s Soho Theatre, following the success of their previous show Party Vibes. Birthday Girls write for various children’s TV shows including CBBC and CITV and their Game of Thrones sketch was used as part of the Comic Relief 2017 campaign. Daughter to Jennifer Saunders and Ade Edmondson, Beattie began her career as a founding member of the critically acclaimed sketch group Lady Garden, who were Edinburgh Festival favourites and Hackney Empire New Act of the Year award finalists. They wrote and performed sketches for BBC3’s Live at the Electric, BBC Radio 4’s Sketchorama, BBC2’s Dick and Dom’s Funny Business, and appeared in Comic Relief spoof Uptown Downstairs Abbey for BBC1. Beattie has appeared in Cooking in a Bedsitter (BBC Radio 4), Fresh Meat (Channel 4), Marley’s Ghosts (UKTV Gold), the pilot of studio sitcom Upstart Crow (BBC2) and Spy and Omid Djalili’s Little Cracker (Sky1). For BBC1, Beattie has appeared in Matt Lucas’ silent comedy Pompidou, Ben Elton’s The Wright Way and Jennifer Saunders’ Jam and Jerusalem. Tom Craine (writer): Tom Craine is an award-winning stand-up comedian and writer. Tom has written two series of the critically acclaimed series “Josh” with Josh Widdicombe (in which he also appears). As well as having written for The Guardian, his monthly column for Cosmopolitan Magazine (Sex & The Single Guy), won Best Column at the UK Dating Awards. On TV and radio, Tom regularly presents the ‘Trending Trio’ segment on Weekend (ITV) and was a regular on The Josh Widdicombe Show (XFM). He has performed stand up on Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC Three) and Stephen K Amos' 'Idiots Guide' (BBC Radio 4) and presented the documentary 'Glastonbury: Jesus to Jay-Z' (BBC Three) as well as investigative reports on 'Inside Out' (BBC One). Other recent appearances include; Drunk History (Comedy Central), Safeword (ITV2) and The Dog Ate My Homework (CBBC). As a stand up, Tom has gained a raft of 4 and 5 star reviews for his Edinburgh shows (including being chosen in the Top 5 show at the Fringe by The Times, and as the critics choice in The Guardian). He has also supported Rhod Gilbert, Alan Carr, Josh Widdicombe and Russell Kane on tour. Tom is also a core writer for the British Comedy Award winning The Last Leg (Channel 4).