“As the voiceover of a generation he’s [Stirling] become a national sensation”
The Evening Standard
“Bugeja has an eye for original comic detail that’s all his own’”
The Guardian
10th March 2021 – ITV2 have commissioned Buffering, a brand new comedy written, created by and starring BAFTA-winning comedian Iain Stirling (Love Island, CelebAbility, Taskmaster), with co-creator and writer BBC New Comedy Award winning Steve Bugeja (The Russell Howard Hour, CelebAbility, Economics with Subtitles), produced by Avalon.
The 6 x 30” series will air on ITV2 and follow twenty-something Iain (Iain Stirling) playing a children’s TV presenter in a complicated relationship with TV producer Olivia (Elena Saurel – Around the World in 80 Days, Killing Eve, Gold Digger). Iain’s housemates Rosie (Jessie Cave – Harry Potter, Trollied, Black Mirror), Greg (Paul G Raymond – Black Mirror, Kiri, The Windsors), Ashley (Rosa Robson – The Offenders, Inside No. 9) and Thalia (Janine Harouni – Modern Horror Stories, Patrick Melrose, Stand-Up Sketch Show), alongside Ashley’s old flame Robbie (Sean Sagar – Fate: The Winx Saga, The Gentleman, Our Girl), will together face the daily challenges of millennial living. As a generation who have been brought up to believe you must live the perfect life, these friends will discover it’s ok to fail, over and over again.
Iain Stirling said: “This show has been a passion project for me and Steve for years now so it’s a dream come true to see it get made. I cannot thank ITV2 enough for the faith they have shown in me over the years. Pinch yourself stuff!”
Paul Mortimer, ITV’s Head of Digital Channels and Acquisitions said “We’re excited to land this new scripted comedy by Iain and Steve for ITV2. Comedy continues to be an important part of the channel’s output and we hope this fresh take on a twenty-somethings flat-share will sit perfectly alongside our other programmes on the channel and ITV Hub.”
Richard Allen-Turner, Executive Producer, Avalon said: “We’re delighted with ITV2’s commitment and support shown for this fresh new comedy showcasing Iain and Steve’s brilliantly funny and razor-sharp millennial voices and our superb cast.”
Buffering is created and written by Iain Stirling with BBC New Comedy Award winning Steve Bugeja, while the director is Martin Stirling (Inside No. 9, The Mind of Herbert Clunkerdunk, Steen Raskopoulos’s Horror: Scare BnB) and producer is Jane Bell (The Reluctant Landlord, Morgana Robinson’s Dreamland, Beep).
Set to air in 2021, Buffering has been commissioned for ITV2 by Paul Mortimer, ITV’s Head of Digital Channels and Acquisitions and Nana Hughes, ITV’s Head of Scripted Comedy. The series is a Comedy 50:50 production with Eleanor Tiernan and Christine Robertson co-writing some episodes. Produced by Avalon and Executive Produced by Richard Allen-Turner and Jon Thoday.
For more information, please contact Victoria Wedderburn at Avalon on VWedderburn@avalonuk.com or Gary Smith at ITV on Gary.Smith@itv.com
About Avalon
Avalon is a multi-award-winning talent management, television production and live promotion group with offices in London, Los Angeles and New York.
Avalon, Artist Rights Group (ARG) and The Agency represent a prolific roster of artists including comedians, actors, presenters, writers and directors. Avalon’s numerous ground-breaking returning television shows currently in production include: Not Going Out (BBC), the UK’s longest running sitcom on air; Taskmaster (Channel 4), the BAFTA-winning hit entertainment format showing in 100 countries; multi Emmy-winner, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO); The Russell Howard Hour (Sky), the network’s most successful entertainment show launch since 2010; Starstruck, a new sitcom from the 2018 Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Rose Matafeo (HBO Max/BBC); Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, from creator Josh Thomas (Freeform); Breeders, a sitcom starring Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard (FX/Sky); a new series of the iconic British satirical puppet show, Spitting Image (BritBox UK); and multiple comedy specials for Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Netflix.
Other landmark Avalon shows include BAFTA winning and multi Emmy nominated Catastrophe (Amazon Prime Video/Channel 4), Fantasy Football League (BBC/ITV), multi BAFTA-winning TV Burp (ITV), and Workaholics (Comedy Central USA). Avalon also distributes its catalogue of programmes to over 150 countries worldwide. Avalon has produced many globally successful podcasts and is at the top of the UK iTunes chart with the multi-award-winning Shagged. Married. Annoyed by Chris and Rosie Ramsey.
As a leading promoter of live comedy, Avalon produced Newman and Baddiel: Live at Wembley, the UK’s first arena comedy show; Jerry Springer: The Opera, the first West End show to win all four UK ‘Best New Musical’ awards; and has continued to produce and promote live shows globally, as well as promoting more winners and nominees of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award than any other company.
For Avalon news visit: www.avalonuk.com/press or follow @avalonent
