Filming is underway for a new six-part BBC One and iPlayer sitcom, Can You Keep a Secret?, starring comedy icon Dawn French. The series, set and filmed in the West Country, is set to be a hilarious take on family secrets and misguided good intentions.
Here’s the Lowdown: Dawn French (The Vicar of Dibley) plays Debbie Fendon, a well-meaning but meddling grandmother. When her husband William, played by Mark Heap (Friday Night Dinner), is wrongly declared dead, they decide to exploit the situation for a life insurance payout. William hides in the loft while they wait for the money, hoping for a smooth path to retirement.
What This Means Now: The series features Craig Roberts (Submarine) as their stressed-out son Harry, and Mandip Gill (Doctor Who) as Harry’s police officer wife, Neha. The central premise—a faked death for financial gain—sets the stage for classic sitcom chaos.
The Bigger Picture: Can You Keep a Secret? comes from writer Simon Mayhew-Archer, producer of the acclaimed BBC comedy This Country. The show is set up to explore family, and examine just how keeping a massive secret can spiral out of control, especially when one family member is a police officer. The combination of a strong cast, a relatable setting (the West Country), and a farcical plot looks to be a potential hit for the BBC One.
