Channel 4 orders retro crime comedy from People Just Do Nothing team

Tuesday 20th October 2020, 3:48pm by Jay Richardson

People Just Do Nothing. Image shows from L to R: Steves (Steve Stamp), Grindah (Allan Mustafa), Beats (Hugo Chegwin). Copyright: Roughcut Television

Channel 4 has ordered a crime-based comedy drama to series from the People Just Do Nothing team, British Comedy Guide can reveal.

The Curse is set in the 1980s and based on a true story about a gang involved in a robbery who get more than they bargain for once they have the loot.

Written by and starring Kurupt FM's Steve Stamp, Allan Mustafa and Hugo Chegwin, the heist caper co-stars Tom Davis and is directed by his regular collaborator James De Frond (King Gary, Murder In Successville).

A non-broadcast pilot was shot in London's East End in April 2019, at locations including the Palm Tree Pub in Mile End.

A possible inspiration for The Curse, which is being made by Davis and De Frond's production company Shiny Button (Pls Like, Dial M For Middlesbrough), is the 1983 Brink's Mat robbery, in which thieves stole £26 million of gold bullion, diamonds and cash from a warehouse at Heathrow International Trading Estate.

However, several of the robbers died soon afterwards in shady circumstances linked to their efforts to launder the gold.

News of The Curse's commission comes as Kurupt FM prepare to launch a second series of their podcast on Audible, ahead of releasing their latest album next year.

The team are also currently developing a gym-based sitcom, Peacock, for the BBC, starring Thomas Gray. Meanwhile, the People Just Do Nothing movie, Big In Japan, is set for a February release in cinemas.

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