RTL Group | London, 02/23/2023

Dancing Ledge Productions To Produce ‘Big Mood’

A protagonist with a bipolar disorder, messy pitfalls of adulthood and plenty of dark humor: the filming of the new comedy series “Big Mood” around “Bridgerton” star Nicola Coughlan will start this spring. Channel 4 has commissioned Fremantle’s Dancing Ledge Productions for the six-part series.

Channel 4 in the UK has commissioned Fremantle’s Dancing Ledge Productions for a new comedy series: “Big Mood”, written by Camilla Whitehill, is a vivacious and rebellious portrayal of female friendship when infiltrated by the complexities of a serious bipolar disorder. The lead roles are cast with “Bridgerton” star Nicola Coughlan and “It’s a Sin” actress Lydia West. The six-part series, which was first titled “Super Close”, will explore the messy pitfalls and idiosyncrasies of navigating adulthood through wicked humor, daft anecdotes and unsettling truths. Rebecca Asher (“Brooklyn Nine Nine”) will direct the filming, which will start this spring. Fremantle will handle the global distribution. Laurence Bowen (“The Responder”) and Chris Carey (“Crossfire”) will executive produce for Dancing Ledge Productions.

In the series, best friends Maggie and Eddie have lived in each other’s pocket for ten years through thick and thin. When the “adulthood” part of their lives starts to loom large, careers are hanging in the balance, and Maggie’s bipolar disorder is making an unwelcome return, Eddie begins to question whether the friendship is really in both of their best interests. It’s a pivotal point in their lives, bringing to the surface those all-important questions. Could sleeping with your former History teacher be the key to happiness? Is a basement Rat Hotel a functional alternative to pest control? How do you stop your new psychiatrist from giving you worry dolls?

Lead actress Nicola Coughlan is delighted about working with Camilla Whitehill: “When I first met Camilla Whitehill long, long ago, during the time of Indie Sleaze, I quickly realized she was one of the funniest and most talented people I’d ever met. It was always our dream to work on something together, and now that dream is coming true.” Lydia West shares her opinion: “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.”

Scriptwriter Camilla Whitehill is also looking forward to the project: “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…I am beside myself,” Laurence Bowen and Chris Carey of Dancing Ledge Productions are also set for “Big Mood” and can’t wait: “Camilla’s writing is laugh out loud funny because it’s truthful, and that’s what makes her such a star. Add to that two of the best actors in the world and one of the finest directors and we’re well and truly made up.”