With a new series in the works, Dawn French is ‘Delicious’ this Christmas
Perhaps either taking a page from former husband Lenny Henry’s brilliant portrayal of culinary genius, Gareth Blackstock, in the comedy series, Chef, or remembering her portrayal of Geraldine Granger and her love of all things food-related in Vicar of Dibley, Dawn French has signed on for a new Sky1 comedy series, Delicious, premiering Christmas Day on Sky1. Joining French in Delicious will be Silent Witness star Emilia Fox, Game Of Thrones actor Iain Glen and veteran theater and television actress Sheila Hancock.
The 4-part series, written by Dan Sefton (Mr Selfridge, Death in Paradise, Secret Diary of a Call Girl), will see the former Dibley vicar star as Gina, a passionate cook who was once married to Leo Vincent, a successful entrepreneur, chef and hotel owner, with whom she shares a daughter. Leo made his fortune from his exceptional Italian cooking. Leo definitely owes much of his success to Gina’s exceptional cooking, but since leaving her for the glamorous Sam (Fox), his business has continued to thrive at the idyllic Penrose Hotel in the Tamar Valley. Now, here’s where you’re going to have to follow me really close…
Since divorcing Gina, Leo’s culinary empire has continued to grow, with the fruits of success now being shared with his new wife Sam. However, Leo is keeping a secret which is set to upturn all of their lives. In a friendship already born out of betrayal, Gina and Sam face the secrets and scandal that will bind them together in the most unlikely of circumstances.
When Sam has suspicions that Leo is having an affair, she confides in Gina, confident that she’ll recognize the signs. Only to later discover that it’s Gina herself who is the ‘other woman’. The secrets and scandals that spill out are proof that sleeping with another woman’s husband is never a good idea – even if he was your husband first. As Sam and Gina try to fix their broken families, will a friendship rise from the ashes of betrayal or will they tear each other apart?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpt-adOMqwk
Sounding like more drama than comedy (FYI, I hate the word dramady), Delicious looks to be more of a story about love, heartbreak and female friendship rather than food. According to press material, the series will attempt to answer the age-old question of, “When your best friend is your husband’s ex – can you ever really be friends or will your secrets eventually overwhelm you?”
When it rains, it pours…
Having not seen much from Dawn French in the sitcom arena since her short-lived series with Alfred Molina, Roger & Val Have Just Got In, it’s good to see her telly dance card filling up for the foreseeable future. In addition to Delicious, Emma Kilcoyne and Beth Kilcoyne, who wrote Roger & Val Have Just Got In in 2010 are working on an adaptation of French’s best-selling debut novel, A Tiny Bit Marvelous for ITV.
The book tells the story of a dysfunctional family. About to turn 50 and mum to two helpless, hormonal teenagers, Mo Battle is on the verge of a crisis. Her 17-year-old daughter Dora blames Mo for pretty much everything and Peter who believes he’s quite simply as darling and marvelous as his hero Oscar Wilde. She’s about to do something unusually wild and selfish, which will leave the entire family teetering on the edge. Somewhere, keeping quiet, is Dad… who’s just, well… Dad. Will the family fall? Or will they, when it really matters, be there for each other?
Welcome back, Dawn. Now, if you could just get that Bishop of Dibley project up and running….
In: Comedy
