Staged: David Tennant and Michael Sheen star in new BBC One lockdown comedy

BBC One has announced new comedy Staged to star David Tennant and Michael Sheen.

The show, filmed in lockdown and adhering to government guidelines, will air over six 15-minute long instalments in June.

Staged will start at 10.45pm on Wednesday 10 June on BBC One and will be available as a box set on BBC iPlayer after transmission.

Stage Chat reports that Staged features the cast of a play – the cream of the crop of British acting talent – who are furloughed when their upcoming West End production is suddenly brought to a halt by the lockdown.

The BBC share: “The series follows the cast as they try their best to keep the rehearsals on track in lockdown.

“Absurd and humorous in equal measure, Staged takes on the challenges of creating a drama in lockdown, on stage and off.”

Joining David Tennant and Michael Sheen on the cast will be Simon Evans, Georgia Tennant, Lucy Eaton and Anna Lundberg.

They will be joined by selection of guest stars including Nina Sosanya, with more to be confirmed in due course.

Michael Sheen said of the show: “It’s about two young, plucky, upcoming actors David and Michael. We play ourselves – David Tennant and myself – we’re the best casting for it. The premise is that we were going to be doing a play together.

“Then lockdown happened and the director of the play, Simon, who also plays himself, wants to try and keep things going whilst we’re in lockdown and puts forward the idea that we can rehearse using video calls.

“Then when lockdown finishes we’ll be ready to go into a theatre before anyone else. That idea goes down better with David than it does with me. The rest of the episodes are about how that plays itself out.”

David Tennant added: “The two actors are quite like Michael Sheen and David Tennant. They are locked in their houses with their respective partners Georgia and Anna, who happen to be not unlike Georgia Tennant and Anna Lundberg.”

Charlotte Moore, Director BBC Content said: “It’s vital that the BBC provides moments of light relief and this mischievous idea shows what great sports Michael and David are in sending themselves up.”

The series will air from June 10 at 10:45PM on BBC One and will be available to watch online via BBC iPlayer after.