Following a successful pilot, it was announced today (14th October 2024) that BBC Radio 4 have commissioned a full series of the brand-new audience sitcom, Rum Punch, written by and starring stand-up and actor Travis Jay (SUPACELL, Black, British and Funny, The Stand Up Sketch Show), as Marley, a conflict-averse aspiring boxer who works in his parents’ Caribbean restaurant.
Set to air in 2025, the show follows a multigenerational family as they juggle pursuit of their individual ambitions with their responsibilities to the family restaurant in the heart of Lewisham. Travis will reprise the role of Marley, an unreliable millennial convinced he has a bright future in boxing ahead of him, despite his lax training schedule, unhealthy lifestyle and never having won a fight.
Travis is one of the most exciting up and coming names in comedy. Following a sell-out show at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre and run at Soho Theatre with his last stand-up show, Son of David, this Autumn sees Travis head out on his debut UK tour with a brand-new show, Travisty. Travis has also supported Dave Chapelle on his Sticks & Stones London tour and Britain’s Got Talent winner Kojo Amin on tour across the UK. On television, this year also saw Travis star in SUPACELL, the hit superhero drama that topped the ‘Top 10’ chart on Netflix UK and globally. Elsewhere, Travis was a regular on Late Night Mash (Dave), as a writer and voice artist for the rebooted Spitting Image (BritBox) and has appeared on shows including The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV2), Black, British & Funny (Channel 4), Drunk History and Comedy Central Live (Comedy Central) and Deep Fake Neighbour Wars (ITVX).
Created by Travis Jay, Rum Punch has been commissioned for BBC Radio 4 by Julia McKenzie and is an Avalon production.
Rum Punch will air on BBC Radio 4 and on BBC Sounds in 2025.
Tickets to see Travis Jay on tour available at www.travisjay.co.uk
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For further information and publicity enquiries please contact:
Perrine Davari at Avalon on [email protected]
Publicity enquiries to Frances Kordonowy on [email protected]
NOTES TO EDITORS
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, Artists Rights Group and The Agency together represent a diverse and distinctive roster of artists including actors, comedians, writers and directors, among them Academy Award, BAFTA, Emmy, Tony and Olivier Award-winners.
Avalon is the UK’s largest true independent television production company, with over 40 shows in production in the last year including: hit entertainment format Taskmaster (Channel 4 in the UK, Network 10 in Australia, TV4 in Sweden, TVNorge/Discovery+ in Norway); Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO); Starstruck (HBO Max/BBC); Not Going Out (BBC), the UK’s longest running sitcom on air; Breeders (FX/Sky); The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show (BBC); and Fantasy Football League (Sky). Avalon has produced over 4,000 episodes of hit programming for audiences in the UK, US and around the world, winning over 30 Emmy Awards and BAFTAs from nearly 100 nominations.
Other landmark Avalon shows include Catastrophe (Amazon/Channel 4), Flatbush Misdemeanors (Showtime), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky), TV Burp (ITV), and the cult classic workplace sitcom Workaholics (Comedy Central). Avalon has also produced over 60 comedy specials for various platforms including Amazon, HBO and Netflix, as well as numerous podcasts and radio shows, including the UK’s biggest podcast Shagged. Married. Annoyed. with Chris & Rosie Ramsey. Avalon’s dedicated distribution arm licenses its catalogue of programmes and formats to over 200 territories worldwide.
Avalon also produces and promotes live comedy around the world and has promoted more winners and nominees of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award than any other company. Avalon produced Newman and Baddiel: Live at Wembley, the UK’s first arena comedy show, Jerry Springer: The Opera, winner of four Olivier Awards, and is currently producing Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical in the West End.
For Avalon news visit: www.avalonuk.com/press or follow @avalonent
