Dave’s scripted comedy slate isn’t going anywhere, as we’ve just heard that both Zapped and Porters have been renewed by UKTV’s home of witty banter. Both shows will get another series, as Dave continues its commitment to original programming.
Zapped centres on a character named Brian Weaver (played by James Buckley, aka Jay from The Inbetweeners), who gets zapped from his mundane office life into a madcap fantasy world named Munty. There, he encounters a number of otherworldly nutters played by such talented British actors as Paul Kaye, Sharon Rooney, Kenneth Collard and Louis Emerick. The show’s next run will be Zapped series 3, and it has a hefty cliffhanger from the Zapped series 2 finale to resolve.
Porters, on the other hand, takes place in a hospital in the real world. Its plot follows a newbie on the support staff – Simon, played by Edward Easton – who also encounters a number of nutters. Blade Runner actor Rutger Hauer is particularly hilarious, and Crazyhead‘s Susan Wokoma does fine work as well. Three episodes of Porters aired last year to test the waters, and now Dave is pressing ahead with a full series of the show.
UKTV commissioning editor Pete Thornton released this statement to go with the news:
“Zapped has now established itself as one of Dave‘s most popular programmes, and I’m absolutely delighted to be returning to Munty for another series of dazzling comic invention, care of the creative heavyweights at Black Dog and Baby Cow, complemented by our incredibly talented cast.”
“At the same time it’s really exciting to be able to confirm the return of Porters for a full series. The first three episodes set out the show’s credentials as a highly original comic creation and we’re very much looking forward to witnessing the cast’s further adventures via the fertile imagination of one of the UK’s most successful and prolific writers of recent years.”
We’ll bring you updates on both shows as we hear them. As it stands, neither series has a firm return date announced.