Channel 4 continues to make programming decisions that other outlets would shy away from, which is a very admirable thing indeed. The UK broadcaster has just announced Home, a sitcom centred on a Syrian refugee who lives in the UK.
Home is written by Rufus Jones (who you’ve probably seen on screen in W1A, Camping and/or Hunderby), who will also star in the show. A short pilot episode was made in 2017 as part of Channel 4’s Comedy Blaps project, and now six new episodes are being made to follow on from that pilot.
Channel 4 sums up the story thusly…
“When new couple Peter (Rufus Jones) and Katy – and Katy’s son John – go on their first family holiday to France, the plan is to bring back a tan, a few happy memories and six crates of vintage champagne. What they actually bring back is going to come as a big surprise…
“Home follows the experience of Sami, a Syrian refugee who enters Britain illegally to claim asylum. Living in with Peter, Katy and John, Sami and his adoptive family discover and come to terms with what a home really means.
“The plight of Syrian refugees has been recorded and explored many times by documentary-makers, but in Home Rufus Jones has penned a warm, touching and deftly surprising modern sitcom which gets to the very essence of home and family.”
Rufus Jones said this about the project being picked up for a full series:
“I’m made up that Channel 4 have allowed me to tell this story, alongside a very special cast and crew. It has become something of a passion project. If you’re only going to invite one refugee into your house this year, make it this one. Actually, make it a real one, then this one. Thanks.”
The 13-minute pilot can be watched right here:
We’ll bring you more news about Home as we hear it. The premiere date is yet to be announced.