Melvyn Hayes to star in sitcom taster Doubles
Melvyn Hayes, who played Bombardier 'Gloria' Beaumont in It Ain't Half Hot Mum, has signed up to star in a new short film which will act as a taster pilot for a sitcom idea.
Set in the world of domiciliary care, Doubles will be filmed next month.
The star - who has also appeared in sitcoms such as Benidorm and Not Going Out - will play Stan, a recently widowed pensioner whose quiet grief is slowly unravelled.
Set over the course of a single shift, Doubles focuses on two care workers who are thrown together despite their wildly different personalities and approaches to life.
The script has been written by Liam Tulley and Amy Albright, with Tulley also set to play one of the two care workers.
The writers have scripted a full pilot episode for Doubles, but will initially produce a short film version with Hayes, to act as a proof of concept to show what the series could be. The plan is to submit the short to various film festivals.
Speaking to BCG, Tulley says: "I've wanted to write something like this for years - after working as a care assistant for over a decade, I knew there were so many stories and characters that hadn't been shown in comedy before.
"When Amy came on board as a co-writer, it just clicked. I'd never written with anyone else before, so I was a bit wary about someone coming in and not getting it or wanting to change the tone. But she just got it straight away. She's got no filter - which I love about her, even when she slags off the male character for being miserable, forgetting he's based on me."
Albright adds: "Working with Liam on the script has been so much fun I forget it's technically work. From the start, I could see the potential - I'm very excited to see where this goes."
Speaking about Hayes, who swiftly accepted their job offer, Tulley comments: "Having someone with his profile say 'yes' to your work - and say he loved the script - is a huge compliment. Especially in this industry, where rejection is normal and feedback is rare."
Doubles will be filmed on location in Wakefield this July.