David Tennant and Michael Sheen, or should that be Michael Sheen and David Tennant return with more Staged for BBC One

Actors Michael Sheen and David Tennant return with more Staged from Infinity Hill and GCB Films for BBC One.

The new series sees the pair attempt to navigate their 'new normal' at home with their increasingly exasperated families whilst simultaneously trying to tackle the world of 'virtual Hollywood' and their ever more fragile egos.

Also returning for the new series are Georgia Tennant, Anna Lundberg and Lucy Eaton alongside Nina Sosanya and Simon Evans with new addition to the regular cast Primetime Emmy-winner Ben Schwartz, playing the assistant to Michael and David's American agent.

Following on from the surprise appearances in series one of Judi Dench and Samuel L Jackson this series sees the regulars joined in their virtual hell by a whole host of unexpected guests.

The series hopes to capture our shared feelings of frustration and confusion at a world not quite ready to re-open. Moments that promise normality dashed before they can take hold. The tantalising prospect of comfort kept at bay.

Michael Sheen says: "It's been so great to see how much people enjoyed the first series. Seemed like the laughs were much appreciated. It made us really excited about taking it further and going in some surprising and hopefully enjoyable directions this time."

Georgia Tennant adds: "The prospect of getting my husband back into employment alongside the divine Ben Schwartz and the hairy, Welsh legend that is Michael Sheen all makes me very happy to be back for series two!"

Created by Simon Evans and Phin Glynn, Staged is written and directed by Evans and is an Infinity Hill/GCB Films/No Mystery production for BBC One. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer. The producers are Phin Glynn, Victor Glynn and Georgia Tennant. David Tennant and Michael Sheen are also executive producers of the series. Executive Producers for Infinity Hill are Axel Kuschevatzky and Cindy Teperman and for GCB, Geoff Iles.

Transmission details for Staged will be announced in due course.

MJ

Critical acclaim

"BBC One's thespian comedy nails the quirks of life under lockdown" - The Independent

"The pure joy - that is, a pure, pure joy and, quite possibly, heaven - is the new comedy series, Staged. So funny. So so soooooo funny" - Daily Mail

"Tennant and Sheen are excellent, perennially, even when performing as themselves to their own laptops. Here, joined by Evans and by their real-life spouses - the actors Georgia Tennant and Anna Lundberg - they are on top form, crackling with snide chemistry. The whole thing is a treat. Watch it." - The Stage

"It was the best lockdown show I've seen so far" - The Times