Gold to Air Docuseries on Ealing Studios Comedy Brand

LONDON: U.K. comedy channel Gold has lined up the brand-new UKTV original series Richard E. Grant on Ealing Comedies to air later this year.

The three-part documentary series fronted by actor and director Richard E. Grant will explore one of British cinema’s most powerful and iconic brands, Ealing Studios. Grant will be joined by comedians and filmmakers such as Mike Myers, Peter Capaldi, Michael Palin, Stephen Fry, Eric Idle and Paul Whitehouse. The series will work with STUDIOCANAL to feature never-before-seen footage and stills.

The series, which will air in September, is produced for Gold by Phil McIntyre TV (Monty Python Live, Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled). To celebrate the new series, Gold will also air a selection of classic films, including Passport to Pimlico, Kind Hearts and Coronets and The Lavender Hill Mob.

Grant said: “Between 1939 and 1955, comedy gold was mined at Ealing with the 40-carat talents of Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway and the inimitable Joan Greenwood, to name but a few. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to present these documentaries. Ealing for me was the studio that put Britain on the cinematic map and it’s been great to have the chance to watch all the films again and chat to both my friends and the people who share my love of Ealing Comedy.”

Richard Dean, series producer, writer and director for Phil McIntyre TV, commented: “I’ve always wanted to work with Richard E. Grant, and after filming with him over the past few months, it has to be said that he’s lived up to all of my expectations—he’s extremely funny, incredibly knowledgeable and completely unpredictable. I hope the Gold audience enjoys watching these three Ealing documentaries as much as we have enjoyed making them…to put it in Mr. Grant’s words, ‘It’s been a blast.’”

Iain Coyle, UKTV’s senior commissioning editor, added: “I’m really looking forward to this both as a viewer and as a commissioner. Gold doesn’t do archive shows by half and adding Ealing Comedies and Richard E. Grant to the mix is all the more reason to watch. The guests Richard is lined up to talk to are spectacular; it’ll be a real treat for the viewers and lovers of classic comedy.”

Steve North, the general manager for Gold, remarked: “We are over the moon to welcome Richard E. Grant to Gold. He’s the perfect fit for the channel and will offer a fascinating insight into the endearing past of the Ealing Comedies. The film season will give viewers a chance to enjoy the great classics that inspired the British cinema.”