New comedy series Ketchup inspired by Benidorm and Cheers, writer reveals
Joe Cawley says his new comedy series Ketchup is inspired by great British and American sitcoms of the past, such as Benidorm, The Brittas Empire, Cheers and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
New comedy series Ketchup is inspired by iconic sitcoms Benidorm, The Brittas Empire, Cheers and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the show's creator has revealed.
The project is based on author Joe Cawley's best-selling More Ketchup than Salsa memoirs, which won the Best Travel Narrative from the British Guild of Travel, and will follow a hapless British couple who attempt to run a bar on the Costa del Sol, with colourful expats and locals thrown into the mix.
Joe and his fiancée Joy moved from Bolton in the UK to Tenerife in 1991 with the dream of running a bar, even though they had never run a business, had no bar experience and spoke no Spanish.
Writer Joe says his script has hallmarks of the four acclaimed and beloved shows.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz, Joe spilled: "Benidorm is the obvious one. The Brittas Empire is a good example.
"It's this young couple trying to run this bar surrounded by misfits and people who want to make the bar their own and have it their way. So they're battling against all these people, probably they've been there longer than the owners, so they think they own it more than the owners, if you like.
"It is going to be slightly like Cheers, the American sitcom, where most of the action will take place in the bar. And I guess another comparison will be It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
"Also, there's probably going to be more heart in it, that's the intention for sure. You know, they're battling through, kind of rooting for these people."
Joe also revealed that Ketchup will be "very character-driven" and will feature an ensemble cast that viewers will fall in love with.
He added: "This is very character-driven.
"I know the story is about trying to run this bar in Spain, but it is very much about the characters. It's the interaction between the characters and these larger-than-life characters, characters that anybody who has been abroad, will recognise immediately. But obviously, in a sitcom, they're maximised to their full potential."
Ketchup's cast already includes Kevin McNally and Sandra Dickinson.
It will be filmed between Marbella and the UK and as well as starring as "dodgy" crook Ray, Pirates of the Caribbean actor McNally will be directing the episodes.
Discussing how he ultimately took on the role as well as directing, McNally said: "I was sort of filling in for the character, but I had such a good time. Joe had such a good response to it, he said, 'Please play the role.'
"I was a bit nervous about being in it and directing it, but I had such a good time playing this very, very dodgy character, because I'm getting a bit sick of playing grumpy old men. He's someone I want to play; he’s a crook, a villain, but also kind of useless. He thinks he’s really powerful, but he’s not.
"It's highly comic and very funny. We have some wonderful local actors in it, and we have the wonderful Sandra Dickinson, of course, who is hysterical in it, I have to say.
"In fact, I found it rather hard to direct because I kept laughing and ruining takes."
Filming on a pilot season is already rolling, backed by Ketchup Productions Ltd and New World Films.
