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³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three today announce casting for a brand new comedy-drama pilot, Dappers, from Mamma Mia! writer Catherine Johnson and produced by Mammoth Screen, the producers of dramas Lost In Austen and Margot, for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales.

Dappers is one of the new bold and youthful drama pilots for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three, which demonstrate the channel's continued support of original UK drama and commitment to experimentation.

Starring Lenora Crichlow (Being Human, Material Girl) and Ty Glaser (Above Suspicion, The IT Crowd), Dappers, is a Bristol-based comedy drama that delivers a cheerful poke in the eye to all the negativity that surrounds single-mums.

Ashley (Crichlow) and Faye (Glaser) are young mothers and best mates – "dappers" in their native Bristolian – who live in housing-association flats in well-to-do Clifton. They're a pair of sparky chancers, devoted to their toddler daughters and fiercely loyal to each other.

Growing up, the girls were only interested in having a laugh and enjoying life to the full. Until, that is, they both fell pregnant by their respective boyfriends, the "hubba-hubba handsome" Marco (Tom Ellis, Miranda), a wannabe nightclub impresario, and "cheeky-chappy cute" Ryan (newcomer, Jack Ashton), who's half a step from a stretch.

Now, two years on, they have high hopes of a better life and will stop at very little to achieve this. So, amongst their many scams and schemes, they start "Woofitys", looking after the pets of Bristol's better-off residents.

However, running the business from home doesn't endear them to their new neighbours, Ben (Darren Boyd, Smack The Pony) and Anna (Olivia Poulet, The Thick Of It), who have moved to Bristol for its laid-back charm, not barking dogs and parking-space altercations. Also alarmed by the girls' business enterprise are the odd couple in the basement, Wendy (Gwen Taylor, Barbara) and Barney (Eddie Large, Little And Large). Why are the dogs so attracted to Barney?

These Dappers share laughs, banter and bust-ups with a chirpy resolve and two fingers to the snot-bags who've never dreamed.

Catherine Johnson says: "I'm so happy to have filmed in my home town of Bristol. This beats a Greek isle with Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth any day!"

Damien Timmer, executive producer for Mammoth Screen, adds: "The stellar cast we've attracted is a tribute to Catherine's brilliant script. We hope Dappers puts Bristol on the TV comedy map for some time to come!"

Dappers is a Mammoth Screen production for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales. It is written by Catherine Johnson who is also an executive producer alongside Mammoth Screen's Damien Timmer and Michele Buck.

The director is Greg Fay and the producer is Jane Harrison (Gavin And Stacey). The comedy drama has been commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Drama Commissioning, Danny Cohen, Controller of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three, and Piers Wenger, Head of Drama for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Wales.

Dappers filmed in February 2010 for transmission on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three this spring.

PPR

Information for viewers

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