“Big Mood” New Channel 4 Comedy With Nicola Coughlan & Lydia West

Fremantle-based Dancing Ledge Productions has been commissioned by Channel 4 to create an innovative new comedy series (The Responder, Wedding Season). “Big Mood“, created and written by Camilla Whitehill, is a lively and rebellious depiction of female friendship when infected by the intricacies of a major mental illness.

The six-part series will use dark humor, absurd tales, and unnerving truths to examine the difficulties and quirks of navigating adulthood.

Maggie and Eddie, portrayed by Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) and Lydia West (It’s A Sin) respectively, have been each other’s rock for the past decade. But now that Maggie’s bipolar disorder has returned and their careers are on the line, Eddie is starting to wonder if this connection is in their best interests. It’s a watershed moment for both of them, raising the question, “Could sleeping with your former History teacher be the way to happiness?” Can rodents be managed effectively using a Rat Hotel instead of fumigating the basement? Is there any way to prevent your new psychiatrist from giving you worry dolls as a form of therapy? Maggie and Eddie are now in their thirties, and they must decide if their relationship can make it through the challenges of adulthood.

Nicola Coughlan said: “When I first met Camilla Whitehill long, long ago, during the time of Indie Sleaze, I quickly realised she was one of the funniest and most talented people I’d ever met. It was always our dream for us to work on something together, and now Channel 4 are making that dream come true. I can’t wait to make this show with this amazing group of people.”

Lydia West added: “I’m so happy to be working with Camilla and Nicola on this project. The writing is genius, and the subject explores the mental health struggles that all of our generation face – coupled with how to navigate complicated, loving and nuanced friendship. Channel 4 is the perfect home for this heart-warming, hilarious, savvy comedy and I feel truly honoured to tell this story which touched my heart.”

Camilla Whitehill also commented: “Getting my own Channel 4 comedy still feels like some kind of long form prank, Punk’d style. But on the off chance it isn’t, I am beside myself to be making this show with such an incredible team of people, a cast that I’d be jealous of if it wasn’t my cast, and for a channel that’s produced some of my favourite shows of all time.”

Big Mood is written by Camilla Whitehill and produced by Fremantle-backed Dancing Ledge Productions. It will be directed by Rebecca Asher (Dead to Me, Brooklyn Nine Nine), executive produced by Lotte Beasley Mestriner (The Young Offenders) and produced by Georgie Fallon (The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies). Laurence Bowen (The Salisbury Poisonings, The Responder) and Chris Carey (Crossfire, Wedding Season) will executive produce for Dancing Ledge Productions. Fremantle will handle global distribution for the series. Big Mood was commissioned for Channel 4 by Commissioning Editor, Laura Riseam.