or


[12/15/20 - 02:44 AM]
Cast for Stephen Merchant's "The Offenders" (w/t) Announced as Filming Resumes in Bristol
The series follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol.

[via press release from BBC]

Cast for Stephen Merchant's The Offenders (w/t) announced as filming resumes in Bristol

The Offenders (w/t) is a six-part series from multi-award-winning writer and director Stephen Merchant coming to BBC One and Amazon Prime Video.

I'm delighted that we're now finally able to resume filming with this incredible cast and finish this long-standing passion project. - Stephen Merchant

The series follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol. As they become involved in each other's lives, they also become involved with a dangerous criminal gang.

At first, the Offenders seem like archetypes easy to pigeonhole, but gradually we see behind their façades, understand their hidden depths and what made them the people they are today. We are reminded that no one is all good or all bad. Everyone has a story.

Academy Award winning actor Christopher Walken becomes an offender undertaking community service in his first lead British television role, alongside writer and director Stephen Merchant, with Rhianne Barreto, Gamba Cole, Darren Boyd, Clare Perkins and Eleanor Tomlinson.

Meet The Offenders:

Rhianne Barreto (Honour, Hanna) plays Rani, a gifted but rebellious maths student who has been hot-housed from a young age by her loving but controlling parents

Gamba Cole (Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle) plays Christian, a young man struggling to raise his kid sister while staying one step ahead of the Brook Hill Crew, a notorious Bristol crime gang

Christopher Walken plays Frank, an inveterate scoundrel trying to reconnect with his family

Stephen Merchant (The Office, Jojo Rabbit) plays Greg, a lonely lawyer coping with divorce, work-place bullying and scary men with knives

Darren Boyd (Killing Eve, Lucky Man) plays John, a businessman and law-abiding pillar of the community furious at being labelled a criminal

Clare Perkins (EastEnders) plays Myrna, an ageing activist and campaigner who has lost none of her youthful radicalism

Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark, The War of the Worlds) plays Gabby, an aristocratic celebutante whose glamour and life of leisure masks deep-rooted problems

Additional cast include: Jessica Gunning (Back, Pride) as Diana; the Offenders' Community Service Supervisor, who supervises with what she deludedly believes is an iron first, Dolly Wells (Dracula, Doll & Em) as Frank's daughter, Margaret, Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones, Derry Girls) as John's father, John Snr, Nina Wadia (Goodness Gracious Me, Bend it like Beckham) as Rani's mother, Shanthi, Aiyana Goodfellow as Esme and Charles Babalola as Malaki.

Stephen Merchant says: "Like so many other productions, we'd just begun filming when Covid-19 struck and we had to shut down. I'm delighted that we're now finally able to resume filming with this incredible cast and finish this long-standing passion project. This is the first series I've made in my hometown of Bristol and I'm so excited to showcase the city and utilise the amazing local talent."

As the production is taking place during the current Covid-19 pandemic, additional controls are being implemented by the production team. Big Talk and Four Eyes are committed to creating a safe working space and have developed comprehensive protocols in accordance with current government guidelines to ensure that the series is produced in a safe and responsible manner. Production have worked closely with the BBC and Amazon Prime Video to develop the detailed Covid-19 protocol policy, implementing various safety measures and testing to keep the cast, crew and public safe.

These include; a designated Covid-19 supervisor on set to look after the production's safety precautions and efforts. Using local crew and supporting artists where possible. Soft isolation for all cast (two weeks prior to their first day on shooting). Twice weekly PCR testing for all those working within Close Contact Cohorts. Split departments into smaller cohorts (e.g. two make up trailers with separate teams working apart from one another). Ensuring all crew are working two metres apart from each other, wearing a face mask at all times and providing wash and sanitisation facilities in all workspaces. A strict zonal system (Zone 1, 2 & 3) - limiting the number of people within the set (both within the studio and on location). Finally, continuing to monitor ongoing changes to the government guidelines on any travel implications in regards to the re-introduction of the tier system.

The series is a co-production between BBC One and Amazon Studios. The series was commissioned by BBC Comedy and BBC One, produced by Big Talk (Mum, Friday Night Dinner, Defending the Guilty) with Stephen Merchant's Four Eyes. Big Talk is part of ITV Studios.

The series will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Amazon Prime Video in the United States, Canada and Australia.

The series is created by Stephen Merchant and Elgin James. Executive Producers are Stephen Merchant for Four Eyes, Luke Alkin Kenton Allen and Matthew Justice for Big Talk, and Kate Daughton is the Commissioning Editor for the BBC.

Directors are Stephen Merchant and John Butler (Papi Chulo). Producer is Nickie Sault (The Virtues, World On Fire). The series was commissioned for the BBC by Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer; Shane Allen, Controller Comedy Commissioning and Kate Daughton, Head of Comedy.

The US, Canada, and Australia deal with Amazon was brokered by BBC Studios who are also handling global distribution.

Filming is currently underway in Bristol, UK.

RC





  [december 2020]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· OUTLAWS, THE (AMAZON)





[09/17/25 - 03:15 PM]
Nexstar ABC Affiliates to Preempt "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Indefinitely Beginning Tonight
The company's owned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network will preempt "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for the foreseeable future beginning with tonight's show.

[09/17/25 - 03:14 PM]
Buccaneers at Texans Delivers 17.4 Million Viewers, ESPN's Most-Watched "MNF" Week 2 Game Since 2008
Additionally, the Buccaneers-Texans is ESPN's most-watched individual game on weeks with multiple "MNF" games, whether a true doubleheader or two games with staggered start times.

[09/17/25 - 02:14 PM]
Apple TV+ Lands "The Off Weeks," New Drama Starring and Executive Produced by Ben Stiller and Jessica Chastain
When divorce throws writing professor Gus Adler's life into chaos, he struggles to hold things together during "on weeks" when he has custody of his kids.

[09/17/25 - 12:21 PM]
Prime Video Announces Franchise Expansion with Greenlight of "The Summer I Turned Pretty" Movie
While story details are still under wraps, the surprise news was announced this evening at the series' finale red carpet celebration in Paris, France.

[09/17/25 - 12:01 PM]
Most Valuable Promotions Moves Blockbuster Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis Event to Miami, Florida's Kaseya Center on Friday, November 14, Live Globally Only on Netflix
The blockbuster event, Jake vs. Tank, pits boxing's most-watched disruptor against one of the sport's most feared punchers in a collision that has been four years in the making.

[09/17/25 - 12:01 PM]
Next on Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN - October 2025
Upcoming premieres include: "Fate" (October 8), "Murdaugh: Death in the Family" (October 15), and "LEGO Frozen: Operations Puffins" (October 24).

[09/17/25 - 12:01 PM]
"Camp Rock 3" Officially Greenlit for Disney+ and Disney Channel
Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas will return to their iconic roles.

[09/17/25 - 12:00 PM]
"The Price Is Right" and "Let's Make a Deal" Kick Off New Seasons Beginning Monday, Sept. 22 with Special Episodes
The former returns for its landmark 54th season and will introduce a new pricing game in partnership with BetMGM, "The Lion's Share."

[09/17/25 - 10:26 AM]
USA Network Serves Up "Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman," Premiering Friday, October 24 at 10:00 P.M. ET/PT
The travel series follows WWE legend Braun Strowman as he swaps body slams for bite-sized adventures at some of America's favorite local eateries.

[09/17/25 - 10:23 AM]
"Unaccustomed Earth" Adds Justin Bartha, Jayant Kripalani, Parveen Kaur, Swayam Bhatia and Palomi Ghosh to Cast
They join the previously announced Freida Pinto, Siddharth, Sarayu Blue, Indraneil Sengupta, Adi Roy, and Iyla Sundarsingh Mckaig.

[09/17/25 - 10:13 AM]
Video: Official Trailer - "Abbott Elementary" Returns October 1 on ABC and Stream on Hulu
Watch the season premiere Wednesday, October 1 at 8:30/7:30c on ABC and stream on Hulu.

[09/17/25 - 10:01 AM]
Award-Winning Artist and Horror Aficionado Janelle Monae Returns as "HalloQueen" for AMC Networks' "FearFest" Programming Event Celebrating Horror and Genre
The long-running, annual horror and genre programming event featuring over 650 hours of iconic horror films franchises, new series, specials and more, across linear and streaming.

[09/17/25 - 10:00 AM]
Mario Lopez Set to Host the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Exclusive Collaboration with "Access Hollywood"
The event will be streamed live at watch.theemmys.tv and via The Emmys app on Friday, October 17.

[09/17/25 - 09:56 AM]
"South Park" to Continue on Wednesday, September 24th at 10PM ET/PT on Comedy Central
Regarding tonight's previously scheduled episode: "Apparently when you do everything at the last minute sometimes you don't get it done," said Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

[09/17/25 - 09:07 AM]
The CW Gives Classic TV Fans the Chance to Step Back in Time with "TV We Love"
The nostalgic series celebrates eight of America's most iconic television shows and the indelible mark they left on popular culture.