Mitchell & Webb film new sitcom pilot

Thursday 21st April 2016, 3:27pm

Peep Show. Image shows from L to R: Jeremy Usbourne (Robert Webb), Mark Corrigan (David Mitchell). Copyright: Objective Productions

Peep Show stars David Mitchell and Robert Webb have begun filming a new sitcom pilot for Channel 4.

As previously reported, the duo are currently working on a new sitcom project with Veep and The Thick Of It writer Simon Blackwell. The show, currently titled 'Back', is their first project together since Peep Show ended, and now filming has started on the pilot.

Few details are currently known about the plot of Back as Channel 4 has yet to make an official announcement. However, local newspaper Western Daily Press has published some photos of Mitchell filming scenes in the Gloucestershire market town Stroud from Sunday to Tuesday.

Speaking to the newspaper, deputy mayor Amanda Moriarty said the filming was a great boost for the town. "It's something different and it's really pleasing to see the town chosen for a production like this. It's good for Stroud, something very positive." However, not all the local residents were excited by the arrival of film crews. When the newspaper's reporter asked a group of young people what they thought about David Mitchell, one said: "Who is he?", whilst another hazarded a guess at "Doesn't he do something to make people laugh?"

Robert Webb doesn't appear to be present in the newspaper's photos, however actress Louise Brealey can be spotted. Brealey, who is perhaps best known as Roxanne from Casualty and pathologist Molly Hooper in Sherlock, has written on Twitter: "I'm in Stroud, moonlighting in a sitcom on my week off. It's all go here..."

There are further photos of the filming on the website Stroud Life

It is not currently known whether Back will be broadcast on television, or whether the pilot will just be used internally by Channel 4 to decide whether to order a series. Further details about the project are expected to be revealed it due course.

David Mitchell will next be seen on television as William Shakespeare in Ben Elton's new sitcom Upstart Crow.

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