Starlings, Filming On My Manor

[Rich Johnston]

Sky TV do have a problem with their original comedy commissions. Often high quality productions with a good cast, they only show in the UK on Sky, a popular satellite TV service that is mostly bought for sports and films. Not for original comedy. So they often get ignored, even by those who have paid extra to receive them, and certainly not enough of an audience groundswell that can lift such a show to become part of the national consciousness.

Starlings is one of them, from Sky One. Made by the prestigious Baby Cow, this is how it's described.

Starlingsfollows the lives of a typical working-class brood who live near Matlock in Derbyshire. Granddad has recently moved in, following a rabble-rousing incident at the old folks' home. Rather than see him unhappy, Terry and his warm-hearted wife, Jan, decide to move his father in to their already crammed family home.

Making room for him is Charlie, their 16-year-old football-crazy tomboy daughter; work-shy, reptile enthusiast, Gravy; and beautiful Bell and her brand new baby, Zac, who arrives bang on time for the first episode. Then there's Bell's ex-boyfriend, Reuben, trying to get back with her.

Uncle Loz, Granddad's long-lost son and the artist of the family; and last, but not least, Jan's nephew, Fergie, who offers to bivouac in the garden, after being made homeless when his long-suffering partner chucks him out. And that's it, Starlings - a fully-fledged functional family.

I've never seen it. However, taking the girls to the local pond to feed the ducks, I cam across this notice.

So maybe tomorrow, if I pop down, I may see Starlings for the very first time.

[revg14]

Funny how you're in the UK and have never seen it, and I'm in the US and have seen and enjoyed all of series 1. God bless the interwebs.

Adam