David Tennant and Michael Sheen are back in another series Staged starting in January

Lockdown is not obstacle to entertainment, at least if the entertainment is a new series of Staged, a show about being actors in lockdown. Back on January 4th at 9:45 pm, this new series consists of eight x fifteen minute episodes. According to the BBC:

The new series sees the pair attempt to navigate their ‘new normal’ at home with their increasingly exasperated families whilst simultaneously trying to tackle the world of ‘virtual Hollywood’ and their ever more fragile egos.

Episode one tells how David’s plans to go to work and Michael’s plans to visit a friend abroad are both scuppered by last minute travel rule changes, and some news regarding a work opportunity for the pair turns sour. Returning cast includes Simon Evans, Georgia Tennant, Anna Lundberg, Lucy Eaton and Nina Sosanya. New cast includes Ben Schwartz, who plays the assistant to David and Michael’s American agent (os should that be Michael and David’s?)

The BBC also gives us this tease: following on from the surprise appearances in series one of Judi Dench and Samuel L Jackson, this series sees the regulars joined in their virtual hell by a whole host of unexpected guests. Episode 2 is broadcast on Tuesday.

The first week of 2021 is a strong week for the BBC; Apart from Staged, there’s new series Traces and the first episode of the tenth series of Death in Paradise. See all the BBC’s highlights from week 1 of 2021 here.