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Boffola

/bɒˈfəʊlə/
INFORMAL • NORTH AMERICAN
noun
a joke or a line in a script intended to get a laugh.
adjective
(of a laugh) hearty and unrestrained.
Definitions from Oxford Languages

Boffola Pictures limited is a production company founded by Kate Daughton and Shane Allen.

Our ambition is to enable comedy writers and performers to achieve excellence across the spectrum of sitcom and comedy drama.

The Team

Kate Daughton CCO

Kate left her job as Head of Comedy at the BBC to set up Boffola Pictures. During her 5 years at the BBC she commissioned and exec-produced numerous shows across all channels. Key titles include, The Outlaw’s, Back to Life, Alma’s Not Normal, In my Skin, Ghosts, Fleabag Series 2, This Time with Alan Partridge, The Witchfinder, Two Doors Down, Mum, Don’t Forget the Driver, Upstart Crow, Defending the Guilty, Man Like Mobeen, Count Arthur Strong, Out of her Mind, Toast of Tinseltown, The Goes Wrong Show and Stand Up for Live Comedy. Before joining the BBC Kate produced a number of shows, most notably the BAFTA award-winning Toast of London and David Mitchell and Robert Webb’s Back.

Shane Allen CCO

Shane is the first person to have held the Head of Comedy role at both Channel 4 and the BBC. Key BBC commissioning credits: Peter Kay’s Car Share, Ghosts, Gavin & Stacey 2019 Christmas, Worzel Gummidge, Mum, Fleabag, Inside Number 9, Motherland, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, Charlie Brooker’s Antiviral Wipe, Man Like Mobeen, This Country, Mandy, Detectorists, The Young Offenders, W1A, The Other One and People Just Do Nothing both the series and movie. He launched the BBC Comedy Association to promote more inclusiveness through writing bursaries and sponsoring off screen production entry roles across numerous shows; as well as bring the New Comedy Awards back to television.

At C4 he was responsible for The Inbetweeners Movie (£45m at the UK box office), Friday Night Dinner, Black Mirror, Toast, Peep Show, The IT Crowd, Cardinal Burns, Fonejacker, Star Stories, PhoneShop and Charlie Brooker’s Dead Set.

Early career in production included The 11 0’Clock Show, Shooting Stars, Ali G in Da USAiiii and The Brass Eye Special.

Joe Nunnery Head of Comedy

Joe began his career at BBC Radio Comedy, where he produced award-winning series including Alexei Sayle’s Imaginary Sandwich Bar and Liam William’s Ladhood for Radio 4. He successfully developed Ladhood for a transition to TV and produced three series of the coming-of-age sitcom for BBC Three, while developing a range of projects at BBC Studios Comedy.

Eva O’Flynn Head of Development

Eva O’Flynn joined Boffola from Channel 4, having been on the PSB’s comedy team since 2022 working across the development slate and supporting new talent. Prior to working at C4, O’Flynn held positions at both the BFI and Film4.

Anjana Antony Team Assistant

Anjana graduated from University of Nottingham with a master’s in Film and TV Industries. She successfully secured the Peter Rice Disney Scholarship and started her career working at 20th Television in LA, as a Current Series Intern. She joined Boffola Pictures in the spring of 2023.

News

Guest stars include Chelsea Peretti, Tom Davis, Denise Black, Jamali Maddix, Kojey Radical and last but by no means least, Charlie Cooper

RTS and BAFTA-winning Am I Being Unreasonable? is set to return for a second series on BBC One and iPlayer with a stellar line-up of guest stars including American stand-up and actor Chelsea Peretti (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Tom Davis (Wonka, King Gary), Denise Black (Queer as Folk), Jamali Maddix (Never Mind the Buzzcocks), British rapper and poet Kojey Radical and last but by no means least, Charlie Cooper, in the first onscreen reunion with Daisy May Cooper since their BAFTA-winning This Country.

Written by and starring Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli, and made by Boffola Pictures, Am I Being Unreasonable? was a smash hit in 2022 with 3.2 million viewers*. Series two, which will air next year, will begin where series one left off, mid panic attack. Has Nic got away with murder? Quite possibly. Has she raised her son Ollie to follow in her murky footsteps? Kicked out of the family home for brotherly love – loving the wrong brother – Nic is reduced to sharing a caravan with her not so trustworthy best friend Jen. Nic’s Husband Dan has taken up roller-blading to channel his mid-life crisis. Shunned at the school gates and cast as the witch at the school re-enactment, Nic is experiencing hallucinations. Or is someone playing tricks on her?

Lenny Rush (Doctor Who, Dodger), who won a BAFTA for best male comedy performance for his role as Nic’s son Ollie as well as two Royal Television Society Awards, returns for the new series.

Other stars reprising their roles include Dustin Demri-Burns (Cardinal Burns, Slow Horses), David Fynn (Daddy Issues), Juliet Cowan (Back to Life), Phil Dunning (Smoggie Queens), Georgie Glenn (Call the Midwife), Beatie Edney (Poldark), Amanda Wilkin (The Split), Helen Ann Bauer (Live at the Apollo), Marek Larwood (We Are Klang) and Karla Crome (Under the Dome). It is filmed in Bristol and the West Country.

Daisy May Cooper says: “If you thought Lenny Rush’s BAFTA-winning performance upstaged me in series one, wait until you see his performance completely upstage me in series two where you will be left wondering whether I was even in it at all…. livid.”

Selin Hizli says: “”God bless the BBC and everyone involved for letting us have another twisted turn at this sometimes dark, sometimes funny and always mad story. It’s been a joy and a privilege to get back into the world of AIBU and we hope everyone loves watching it as much as we’ve loved making it.”

Series two of Am I Being Unreasonable? will also return to SBS in Australia and TVNZ in New Zealand.

Am I Being Unreasonable? (6 x 30) is a Boffola Pictures production for BBC One and iPlayer. It was commissioned by Jon Petrie, Director of BBC Comedy. The Producer is Pippa Brown, the Director is Emily McDonald and the Executive Producers are Shane Allen, Daisy May Cooper, Selin Hizli & Jack Thorne. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Tanya Qureshi, Head of BBC Comedy. BBC Studios, who have a minority investment stake in Boffola Pictures, hold global distribution rights and closed the deal for both series with SBS and TVNZ.

*The programme launched to 3.2m for the first episode.

Eva O’Flynn joins Boffola Pictures as Head of Development

Eva O’Flynn takes newly-created role at Am I Being Unreasonable? indie

Am I Being Unreasonable indie Boffola has hired Channel 4 comedy department development exec Eva O’Flynn to a newly created head of development role.

O’Flynn joined Boffola as of this week from Channel 4, having been on the PSB’s comedy team since 2022 working across the development slate and supporting new talent.

Prior to working at C4, O’Flynn held positions at both the BFI and Film4.

Boffola recently made C4 blap Peaked with new talent Ada Player and Bron Waugh and is about to film Josh Glanc’s playground special for C4. The indie, established by Shane Allen and Kate Daughton in 2021 has also just wrapped on its second series of Am I Being Unreasonable? and is prepping the return of The Power of Parker.

O’Flynn said that she has long admired Boffola’s “comic instincts, creative wisdom and exceptional quality of work”.

She added: ”The chance to head up development, continuing their meticulous approach and ardent support of talent, is truly exciting. It’s a joy to have been so warmly welcomed and I look forward to everything to come.”

The Boffola team added that O’Flynn “has proved herself a very shrewd comedy brain whose taste, notes and ideas are impeccable. Her sparky charms will be a boost in making sure we continue to be a happy home for writers and performers to feel the love and support they deserve.”

The Power of Parker to return to the BBC for highly anticipated second series The Power of Parker averaged 2.2M for the first series across 28 days making it the biggest new scripted comedy of the year across the market in 2023

The Power of Parker, from the creative minds of BAFTA award-winning writers Paul Coleman and Sian Gibson, is set to return to BBC One and iPlayer for a second series following a critically acclaimed first run.

The Power of Parker, made by Boffola Pictures, averaged 2.2M for the first series across 28 days making it the biggest new scripted comedy of the year across the market in 2023.

It’s 1992, the Queen is in the midst of her annus horribilis, John Major is the new PM, and Whitney’s I Will Always Love You is stuck at number one. Up in Stockport, Kath (Sian Gibson), Martin (Conleth Hill) and Diane (Rosie Cavaliero) are just trying their best to get along.

Martin Parker has hit rock bottom and is desperate to get his reputation back, Diane is adjusting to single life and running a business, while Kath is getting her happily ever after with her man by her side and is working on rekindling a relationship with her sister. She’s on a mission to sort things out for her sister and her man, but her interfering does the opposite and jeopardises everything. They will need to depend on each other now more than ever, but who do they trust?

Sian Gibson says: “We have been overwhelmed by the lovely response to the first series, and so excited to be back with the dysfunctional Parker family and turn their lives upside down again, with bigger problems and bigger hair.”

Paul Coleman says: “Thrilled to be back in early 90s Stockport, when it still had a Woolies and I received a full student grant.”

Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy at the BBC, says: “The Power of Parker hit the ground running with its irresistible combination of sharp scripts brimming with jokes, nostalgia and outstanding comic performances. We’re excited about the fun ideas Sian, Paul, and the Boffola Pictures team have faxed over for series two.”

Kate Daughton, executive producer at Boffola Pictures, says: “We’re delighted the BBC have given us the opportunity to make more episodes of The Power of Parker. Paul and Sian are phenomenally talented writers, bursting with hilarious new ways to put Kath, Diane & Martin through their paces. We can’t wait to see you back in 90s Manchester.”

The Power of Parker (6×30’) has been commissioned for BBC One and BBC iPlayer by Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy at the BBC. It is co-created and written by Paul Coleman and Sian Gibson, produced by Gill Isles, executive produced by Kate Daughton for Boffola Pictures and Tanya Qureshi, Head of Comedy at the BBC. BBC Studios, who have a minority investment stake in Boffola Pictures, are handling international distribution.

Critical acclaim:

The Independent: “An intriguing romp with echoes of Steve Coogan and Victoria Wood.”

The Daily Telegraph: “A saucy, super-charged nostalgia trip.”

The Radio Times: “There are a number of laugh out loud moments scattered throughout and a string of committed performances from a cast who are clearly having a ball.”

Two Wins for Boffola Shows at the BAFTA's

Friday Night Live wins the BAFTA for best Comedy Entertainment show and in the Best Male Comedy Performance category 14-year-old Lenny Rush became one of the youngest-ever BAFTA TV Awards winners for BBC1’s Am I Being Unreasonable?

 

Am I Being Unreasonable? Nominated for BAFTAs

Daisy May Cooper has been nominated for her performance in the Best Female Comedy Performance Category and 14-year-old Lenny Rush has been nominated in the best Male Comedy Performance category. The show is also in the running for Best Scripted Comedy.

Hulu Buys ‘Am I Being Unreasonable?’

Hulu has acquired Daisy May Cooper’s hit BBC comedy-thriller Am I Being Unreasonable The streamer has taken U.S. rights to all six episodes of the genre-bending comedy, which was written by the This Country creator and Selin Hizli (Mum), and Exec Produced by Jack Thorne. The show will debut as a Hulu original on April 11.

Filming Begins on The Power of Parker

The six-part series for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, co-created by BAFTA Award-winning writers Paul Coleman and Sian Gibson, has started filming in Stockport.

Set in Manchester, it’s 1990, the last days of Thatcher, we meet Martin Parker (Conleth Hill), a self-made impresario with the ambition of Alan Sugar and the swagger of Kilroy Silk. A man with a chain of electrical stores bearing his name, he seems to have it all. But the truth is, times are changing. He’s swimming in debt; his complicated private life is catching up with him and he’s starting to lose his power.

Conleth Hill (Game Of Thrones), Rosie Cavaliero (Worzel Gummidge), George Costigan (Happy Valley) and Sheila Reid (Benidorm) star alongside Sian Gibson (Peter Kay’s Car Share).

Boffola hires Joe Nunnery

Joe Nunnery, producer of BBC Three sitcom Ladhood, will assume the newly created role.

Joe Nunnery says: “I couldn’t be more excited to join Boffola as I’ve long admired Kate and Shane as two of the most talented comedy minds in the business. It’s a privilege to be invited to join their team, who are already producing exciting and boundary-pushing comedy.”

Shane Allen, Chief Creative Officer at Boffola, said: “Joe’s a class act; beloved by talent, agents and broadcasters alike. He espouses our company ethos of taking creative swings and backing talent 100%, alongside being rigorous and good-humoured. Kate and I are very much hoping he’s the Beyonce to our Kelly and Michelle, the Barry to our Maurice and Robin, the Good to our Bad and Ugly, the Crackle to our Snap and Pop. You get the idea, yeah?”

BBC Renew Am I Being Unreasonable?

The comedy thriller Am I Being Unreasonable? has been renewed by the BBC for a second series.  Written by and starring Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli, the critically acclaimed comedy thriller will again be Exec Produced by Jack Thorne. Breakthrough star and BAFTA winner Lenny Rush will also return for the second series.

Daisy May Cooper & Selin Hizli, writers-creators say: “When we first started writing this show we never dreamed it would get commissioned, let alone get another series. We’re so grateful to everyone who has watched it and we promise we will work our hardest to make the second series even better than the first… It’s gonna hit you with all the grace and decorum of a reversing dump truck without any tyres on.”

The Power Of Parker Commissioned for BBC

BBC Comedy commissions the 6×30” series co-created by BAFTA Award winning writer Paul Coleman and Sian Gibson.

Set in Manchester, it’s 1990, the last days of Thatcher, we meet Martin Parker (Conleth Hill), a self-made impresario with the ambition of Alan Sugar and the swagger of Kilroy Silk. A man with a chain of electrical stores bearing his name, he seems to have it all. But the truth is, times are changing. He’s swimming in debt; his complicated private life is catching up with him and he’s starting to lose his power.

Conleth Hill (Game Of Thrones), Rosie Cavaliero (Worzel Gummidge), George Costigan (Happy Valley) and Sheila Reid (Benidorm) star alongside Sian Gibson (Peter Kay’s Car Share).

The Power of Parker (6 x 30) has been commissioned by Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. It is co-created and written by Paul Coleman and Sian Gibson, produced by Gill Isles, executive produced by Kate Daughton for Boffola Pictures and Head of BBC Comedy Tanya Qureshi. It will be co-produced with Lookout Point.

New comedy thriller confirmed for BBC One & BBC iPlayer

Boffola Pictures has landed its debut commission, a BBC comedy-thriller from This Country creator Daisy May Cooper and Deadwater Fell’s Selin Hizli, exec produced by Jack Thorne.

Cooper and Hizli will play the leads and are starring in the untitled six-part show, portraying two friends who love fun, laughter and booze until everything unravels.

(6 x 30, BBC One)

Emily Allen appointed as Head of Development

Boffola Pictures has made its first appointment, bringing in the former BBC Development Producer Emily Allen. Allen’s commissioning credits include PRU for BBC Three, stand up show Funny Festival Live for BBC Two, Peck’Eds from emerging talent Soph Galustian & the upcoming BBC Three series, Zen School of Motoring. She was also responsible for the inaugural BBC Festival of Funny shorts, which brought 15 short films from emerging comedy filmmakers to BBC iPlayer.

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