Jason Cook pens Elaine Paige retirement sitcom
- Elaine Paige is set to lead her own television sitcom, written by stand-up and Murder, They Hope creator Jason Cook
- The comedy about retirement aims to emulate the success of Netflix's late-in-life hits Grace And Frankie and Man On The Inside
- Paige said: "Being part of this show is an absolute gift. It's a bold, funny celebration of friendship, freedom, and the joy of still being very much alive. Roles like this, where women our age take centre stage, are far too rare"
West End legend Elaine Paige is making a sitcom with comedian Jason Cook.
The musical star is set to lead the television comedy focused on retirement, which has the working title Take A Bow and is being written by the stand-up and Murder, They Hope scribe.
Paige's fledgling production company Three Tailors Of Tooley Street is partnering with Cook's Schnoobert Productions to develop the sitcom, which will has a yet-to-be revealed international supporting cast, industry website Broadcast reports.
The comedy reportedly aims to follow in the footsteps of Netflix late-in-life hits Grace And Frankie and Man On The Inside, each of which explore themes of ageing, with the former starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as two women who form an unlikely friendship in later life, and the latter led by Ted Danson as a private investigator working undercover in a retirement home.
Take A Bow aims to "show that life really starts once you get that awful 'work' stuff out of the way" according to writer and stand-up Cook, whose other broadcast credits include the loosely autobiographical BBC Two sitcom Hebburn, and who previously performed in the spoof German synth-pop duo Die Clatterschenkfieternmaus with Lee Fenwick.
"The show is such a boisterous ensemble of strong women from across the world that we think it'll play across multiple territories as we explore the adventures of all these beloved showbusiness figures," he added.
Cook, who set up Schnoobert in 2022, was introduced to the project through Murder, They Hope and Red Dwarf director Ed Bye. No channel has so far been linked to the sitcom and it is not currently known whether Bye will be involved.
Paige has played iconic roles in the likes of Evita, Cats and Hair, starring in more West End and Broadway hits than anyone of her generation. Her television work includes BBC One dramas Life and Home From Home and Sky Arts series The Elaine Paige Show.
Her production company, which has not yet produced a show, was set up in 2020 and she jointly directs it with Jonathan Aron and Nick Fiveash.
She said: "Being part of this show is an absolute gift. It's a bold, funny celebration of friendship, freedom, and the joy of still being very much alive. Roles like this, where women our age take centre stage, are far too rare.
"I'm proud to be part of something that's not only hilarious, but genuinely moving. I think audiences will laugh, cry, and maybe feel a little braver too."
Cook added: "Teaming up with Elaine Paige on this sitcom is an absolute dream. With Elaine's flair, experience, and the fact that she's bloody hilarious, I know we're going to create something truly special with huge audience appeal."
As British Comedy Guide revealed last week, Schnoobert, which has received the BBC's Small Indie Fund for three consecutive years, is also developing a sitcom for the corporation from stand-up Scott Bennett.