“gleefully Fringey late-night nonsense: nonsense sustained, it should be said, by deceptive quantities of craftsmanship behind all the loopy swordfighting, sweaty singing, liberty-taking crowdplay and parodic storytelling” ★★★★
Dominic Maxwell, The Times
“surprisingly seductive… comedy of the most ridiculous variety” ★★★★
Brian Logan, The Guardian
“hilarious character comedy… a higher rate of laughs per minute than anything else you’re likely to see” ★★★★
Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph
“a riot from beginning to end…a cult hit” ★★★★★
Steve Bennett, Chortle
Winner of the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer Ciarán Dowd has adapted his critically acclaimed live show Don Rodolfo into a television short for the screen, airing at 10.00pm on Thursday 22nd April on BBC Two. Co-written with Tom Parry (Pappy’s, Badults), the ten-minute short is directed by Tom Marshall (Ted Lasso, Chewing Gum, Famalam) and produced by Avalon.
Don Rodolfo is a total butthead, a shameless libertine and the greatest swordsman the world has ever seen. Now barricaded inside a remote tavern, surrounded by the Catalan army and facing almost certain death, Rodolfo has ten minutes to drink a bottle of Valdepañas and tell his epic tale…
This opening chapter will see Ciarán reprise his award-winning character alongside Jayde Adams (Good Omens, Alma’s Not Normal), Ariyon Bakare (His Dark Materials, Rogue One) and Abbie Hern (The Twilight Zone, The Pact).
Coming off the back of two sell-out Fringe shows in 2018 and 2019, successful runs at Soho Theatre and a nomination for Breakthrough Act at the 2019 Chortle Awards, Don Rodolfo will add to broadcast credits for Ciarán including Stephen Merchant’s Fighting With My Family (Film4), Romesh Ranganathan’s The Reluctant Landlord (Sky), Keith Lemon: Coming in America (ITV2), Josh (BBC1), GameFace (E4/Hulu), and Zapped (Dave), and he has made the most guest appearances on Drunk History (Comedy Central). Ciarán was also a member of the critically acclaimed sketch group BEASTS, whose sell-out shows were among the top reviewed at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Produced by Avalon, Don Rodolfo Is directed by Tom Marshall (Ted Lasso, Chewing Gum, Famalam). It was commissioned by Shane Allen, Director of BBC Comedy. The Executive Producers are Richard Allen-Turner, Rob Aslett and Jon Thoday. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Gregor Sharp
More praise for Ciarán Dowd’s Don Rodolfo
“a hoot from tee to green… Dowd’s show is a real crowdpleaser. One of those late night gems at the Edinburgh Fringe that is well worth staying up for.” ★★★★
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke/Evening Standard
“sublimely silly… as rapier-sharp and surprising as anything you’ll see this year” ★★★★
Gayle Anderson, The Herald
“a rollicking tale, borne on the ebullient Dowd’s roistering turn as the protagonist… a tremendously entertaining first solo show” ★★★★
Jay Richardson, The Scotsman
For more information please contact: Perrine Davari on PDavari@avalonuk.com / 020 7598 8000
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
