BBC America has ordered their first original comedy series — Almost Royal. The sitcom will revolve around two young British aristocrats — Georgie (Ed Gamble) and Poppy Carlton (Amy Hoggart) — who are visiting the United States for the first time. There will be seven episodes.
Here are some more details:
BBC AMERICA COMMISSIONS FIRST ORIGINAL COMEDY SERIES “ALMOST ROYAL”
New York – March 25, 2014 – BBC AMERICA has commissioned its first original comedy series Almost Royal, a tale of two young British aristocrats on their first trip to the United States – interacting with real-life Americans. The (7×30) series is produced by Burning Bright Productions with Clive Tulloh (Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man, The Dame Edna Treatment, High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman) as executive producer and Seamus Murphy-Mitchell (Bug, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross) as series producer. Almost Royal premieres Saturday, June 21, 10:00pm ET following the Orphan Black season two finale.
Georgie (Ed Gamble) and Poppy Carlton (Amy Hoggart) are heirs to Caunty Manor, a large country estate in Norfolk, England, where they have enjoyed privileged lives as distant descendants of the British Royal Family. They have agreed to have a camera crew follow them on an unofficial royal tour of the greatest country on earth – the United States of America. While also commemorating their late father, Lord Carlton, the road trip will provide the sheltered siblings with an opportunity to spread their wings and see the world. Georgie and Poppy have never worked a day in their lives, driven themselves anywhere or solved any problem more complex than telling their butler to tell their cook what they want for lunch.
Georgie Carlton is the most affable man one could meet. He’s using the trip around America as a way to become more “manly” in order to take on the responsibilities of Caunty Manor and live up to his Father’s legacy.
Poppy Carlton is looking forward to raising her profile on the trip around America. She has high hopes of finding fame as a pop star/actor/author/lifestyle guru/cookery presenter. Poppy has all of the self-delusion required to find fame without having a scrap of talent.
Almost Royal is a BBC AMERICA original series produced by Burning Bright Productions and distributed by BBC Worldwide. The series is directed by Chris Faith (Katy Brand’s Big Ass Show) and Marcus Liversedge (The Only Way is Essex). BBC AMERICA’s slate of British comedies has included Absolutely Fabulous, Twenty Twelve, The Inbetweeners, The Thick of It and The Office.
BBC AMERICA delivers U.S. audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. Owned by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including two Emmy(R) Awards, five Golden Globes(R) and eleven Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable’s most affluent and educated audiences and is available on cable and satellite TV in 80 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms. Online, www.bbcamerica.com is the place to go to dig deeper into pop culture with a British twist.
What do you think? Do you plan on checking out Almost Royal? Does it sound like a hit?
And we lost Copper for this!?!?
Are you serious!!!? Are we to believe that British aristocrats are seriously this ignorant about history and are as stupid as these two are. Seriously Briton, not a good choice in representation of England to the American people, especially to those who unfortunately
Believe almost everything they see on the telly. What an insult to England.
Kathy, I just want to say, this show makes me loves Brits even more than ever! Truly the most creative, intelligent, fall on the floor funniest show I’ve seen in years! You should be so proud! Poppy & Georgie are lovable & brilliant!
American TV has been feminized and dumbed-down to the point of ridiculousness including BBCA. It’s mostly soap opera-esque dramas and simple-minded talk shows like “Copper” or “The Graham Norton Show” that females watch to fill an emotional void in their own lives. Sit-coms are mostly garbage and I’ll probably only watch enough of “Almost Royal” to decide it’s no different. There’s not a lot of choice on BBCA or any American TV for men, but that’s fine since TV is for the dumb masses anyway. Thank goodness men created the internet!
Wow Clint…generalize much? I love how you assume women watch certain shows to fill emotional voids in their lives? I guess only men watch Cops and Lizard Lick Towing and Duck Dynasty then using your logic…..possible to compensate for something in their lives too. Does that mean men only care about shooting guns and beating people up? What makes a show for a man instead of a woman and visa versa? Talk about simple-minded logic.
@Seriously…….ROTFLMAO!!!!!
Is it the 1970’s? This show sounds so cliched it has to be based on some recently relocated scripts after the were lost and thought burned in the energy crisis.
Whoever is taking the created by credit should be thoroughly ashamed.
I agree with so many others here. COPPER was a great show and I believe that BBCA should give us at least a 3rd season. This show sounds dumb and I won’t be watching it.
Ummm, I am not watching BBCA except to catch the last Ripper Street episodes before it moves to Amazon. After what they did to Copper, why get caught up in a show only to have it jerked out from under you with no attempt to tie up story lines?
Seriously, this show sounds dumb…and like someone else posted, who wants to watch a show about rich Brits coming to tour the US? Why would an American audience care? Like some of the people posting here, I really liked “Copper”, I think it was the only thing I was interested in watching on BBC America. Since it was cancelled, I just can’t get into that channel anymore.
As an American, I just have to say, this is by far the funniest, most creative show I’ve seen in ages! You should give it a chance, please, you will not be disappointed! I’d hate for a genuinely wonderful show with lovable characters who can’t help but keep you laughing, be overlooked. I truly think you will love it! We all do over here 🙂
Yes, we watch Graham Norton and Mrs. Brown’s Boys. We desperately miss Copper though. It was like nothing else on tv. Movie quality actors, plotlines, sets, and clothing with a historical foundation.
I’m with Kay and especially Lanie! All the time and money spent building new sets, finding new actors and costuming and yada, yada, yada. Since BBCAmerica decided not to Bring Back Copper for a 3rd season I don’t watch the network anymore. Copper was the ONLY reason why I even watched BBCA and anyway, what makes them think that “Americans” want to watch a sitcom about a British couple visiting New York when they had the perfect show in “Copper”? Especially when there is *already* so much stupid sitcom crap on TV. This will never fly! I don’t know what… Read more »
Hi Robynn, just wanted to say, I’m American & my friends & I are absolutely loving this show!!! It is so funny!! This is the most creative, ingenious show I’ve seen in years! I would be so proud of this show if it was done here. Absolutely smart & hilarious 🙂
all this makes me think that it can be an inexpensive effort every time they have to launch a new show. why didn’t BBC America invest in promoting shows like Copper that was building a fan base rather than trying at all these new ones. they already have a built in fan base , the sets, costumes and talent in place. Instead they’re going to spend money on starting over again and again and again? who’s making decisions over a BBC America? A Monkey?
I enjoyed BBCA programming until they dropped Copper . I was devastated that such a good show was left hanging . I can only hope that your network will show the fans & the show the respect they deserve by at least finishing this series with a movie or season to give it proper closure . But no I haven’t watched another show since . Sorry but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth .
No, I won’t watch either. It’s a shame BBCA starts an excellent show, like Copper, only to cancel it well before the show has run it’s course. I really enjoyed Copper, expecting to watch it for years to come. Spend the money & effort to keep Copper instead of trying to hook us with another new show.
I agree with you Kay, Copper was a great show that should not have been cancelled.
I agree with Kay. Copper was the best series ever and the loysl fans were left hanging with no resolution to loved characters and their story lines. It was a crime wothy of Five Points.
No, since BBCA failed to renew Copper (one of their best series ever) for a 3rd season, blindsiding everyone and leaving the fans hanging with no resolution to the story lines, I won’t watch their shows. It’s not the first time they have abruptly cut off an excellent show with many loyal fans. I can’t trust them not to do it again.