BBC Three has renewed off-beat comedy Cuckoo, the BBC announced today. Six episodes have been ordered for the show’s third season, which is set to air in 2016.
Cuckoo originally followed a middle-class family whose daughter returns home from a summer abroad married to a charming but infuriating eccentric named Cuckoo, played by Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Andy Samberg, much to her father’s annoyance. After Brooklyn Nine-Nine scored a series order at Fox, Samberg exited the series to be replaced by Taylor Lautner as the series lead.
The show’s third season picks up six months after Dale’s dramatic departure at Christmas. Ken and Lorna are preparing for the birth of their new baby; Dylan, much to Ken’s delight, is getting ready to fly the nest as he prepares to leave for university; and Rachel is heartbroken and pining for Dale, but has managed to salvage a questionable friendship with jilted ‘bestie’ Ben. life is slowly getting back to normal in Litchfield when a transformed Dale returns to throw more spanners in the family works.
Twilight star Taylor Lautner is returning to reprise his role as series lead Dale. Other returning cast members include Greg Davies (Man Down) as Ken, Helen Baxendale (Cold Feet) as Lorna, Tyger Drew Honey (Outnumbered) as Dylan, Esther Smith (Ballot Monkeys) as Rachel and Matt Lacey (EastEnders) as Ben.
“Cuckoo is the quintessential BBC Three series – a grabby concept, world-class talent and writers destined for greatness”, said the BBC’s Controller of Comedy Commissioning Shane Allen, who ordered the third season. “Can’t wait to see what new heights of comedic excruciation they concoct for Ken.”
Series creator Robin French and Kieron Quirke are penning the scripts for the third season of the series, which is produced by Ash Atalla’s indie Roughcut TV. Emma Lawson is the series producer, while Doctor Who helmer Paul Murphy is attached to direct. Dan Hine and Ash Atalla serve as the executive producers.
“Cuckoo is a jewel in the Roughcut crown, and we can’t wait to get cracking on the third series”, added Dan Hine, Cuckoo executive producer and Roughcut TV’s Head of Comedy. “We hope audiences will enjoy seeing Davies and Lautner – TV’s unlikeliest comedy duo – return as men reinvented.”
Roughcut TV, Ash Atalla, Robin French and Kieron Quirke made a second attempt to adapt Cuckoo for the US market this past development cycle. The remake was set up at NBC, who ordered a pilot starring Michael Chiklis (The Shield), Cheryl Hines (Suburgatory), Rachel DiPillo (Jane The Virgin), Griffin Gluck (Red Band Society) and Flula Borg (Pitch Perfect 2). Last week, however, the network passed on the project, opting instead to pick up comedies People Are Talking, Crowded and Superstore to series.
