Ardal O’Hanlon to lead cast of new Sky1 sitcom ‘After Hours’

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Sky1 has announced the cast for After Hours, a new comedy series directed by The Royle Family‘s Craig Cash.

The six-part series is currently filming and will star Ardal O’Hanlon (Father Ted), John Thomson (Cold Feet) and Jaime Winstone (Mad Dogs).

Ardal O’Hanlon commented: “I’m delighted to be a part of After Hours. It’s warm, funny and moving and the soundtrack is amazing.”

John Thomson said: “It’s a joy to be working in my hometown with a great cast, strong script and a lovely crew.”

Jaime Winstone added: “I’m really excited to be working with Craig Cash and the lovely crew. I loved the script and it’s great to be back in Manchester.”

Written by Molly Naylor and John Osborne, After Hours follows the journey of Willow Hannigan (James Tarpey, The World’s End), an 18 year old music lover who’s just had his heart broken for the first time. There are no jobs, his beautiful ex-girlfriend Jasmine (Georgina Campbell, Ice Cream Girls) has moved on to someone new and most of his mates have gone away to university whilst he’s been left behind, living with his parents. The only thing that keeps him sane, other than his best friend Chris (Fergus Van Gelder) is listening to After Hours.

Broadcast from a canal boat, After Hours is a local internet radio show run by Lauren (Jaime Winstone) and Ollie (Rob Kendrick, Sugartown), two friends in their late 20s who have somehow, ended up living in Shankly.

O’Hanlon will play Willow’s dad, Peter Hannigan, an ex-milkman who found himself jobless when the big supermarket opened. He’s married to Anna (Susan Cookson, Mount Pleasant) who would secretly love a job at the new supermarket and Thomson plays Geoff, Peter’s best friend who finds sanctuary on the Hannigan’s sofa.

Lucy Lumsden, Head of Comedy, Sky commented: “After Hours is a beautifully written series about growing up in a small Northern town which will capture the hearts of our Sky1 customers. We’re delighted to be working with Craig Cash again.”

After Hours will air on Sky1 in 2015.

Are you looking forward to After Hours? Let us know below…