Sky 1 orders new comedy drama Living The Dream

Tuesday 23rd May 2017, 11:33am

Living The Dream. Image shows from L to R: Mal Pemberton (Philip Glenister), Freddie Pemberton (Brenock O'Connor), Tina Pemberton (Rosie Day), Jen Pemberton (Lesley Sharp)
  • Sky 1 is making Living The Dream, a comedy drama about a British family who move to Florida
  • The six-part series stars Philip Glenister and Lesley Sharp as the parents of the Pemberton family
  • The family set up a trailer park business, but soon realise they are not going to be living the dream they hoped

Sky 1 is making Living The Dream, a comedy drama about a British family who move to America.

Starring Philip Glenister and Lesley Sharp, the format has been created and written by Mick Ford (William And Mary, The Five).

The six-part series follows a British family, the Pembertons - husband Mal (Glenister), wife Jen (Sharp) and their two teenage kids, Tina (Rosie Day) and Freddie (Brenock O'Connor) - who decide it's time to leave rainy England and move to the sunshine state of Florida.

The producers explain: "Mal's bought an RV Park with plans for a booming family-run business, but it soon turns out that they are not going to be living the dream they hoped. Before they've even settled in, Mal discovers that the park is home to a group of eccentric residents who are not exactly thrilled to meet their new owners. Jen has to learn how to survive American suburbia and the kids have to navigate a US high school.

"With culture clashes aplenty, life in Britain soon seems even further away than they'd thought it would. But with the support of each other and their crazy new friends, they begin to learn how to live the American dream."

Living The Dream will also star Kim Fields (The Facts Of Life) as their larger than life neighbour Rhoda; Kevin Nash (Magic Mike) as ex wrestler and park resident Troy; Leslie Jordan (Will & Grace) as busy-body park resident Aiden; Paula Wilcox (Mount Pleasant) as Maureen, and Jimmy Akingbola (Rev) as Paul.

The show is being made by Cold Feet producers Big Talk Productions.

Philip Glenister says: "I'm really looking forward to making Living The Dream a reality! Along with a hugely talented cast and crew! Fire up my trailer park!"

Lesley Sharp adds: "This is an amazing opportunity to work on a warm and witty comedy drama with a great colleague Phil Glenister. It's wonderful to be working with him again and the talented and inspired team at Big Talk."

Adam MacDonald, director of Sky 1, comments: "Living The Dream is going to be great fun - a sparky, funny comedy drama that both embraces and punctures the notion of living the great American dream. I can't wait to see Phil, Lesley and the Big Talk gang take the Sky 1 viewers on an adventure of a lifetime."

Luke Alkin from Big Talk says: "We're delighted to bring Mick Ford's exciting new series to Sky 1. There are nearly half a million Brits living the dream in Florida so it's a fantastic setting for this bold, funny and heart-warming show."

Filming on the series begun recently in the US. The series will be shown on Sky 1 later this year.

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