Sky 1 brings out its little Starlings

Sky looks like it’s going all out to add even more quality to its lineup with the addition of Steve Coogan and Matt King’s (Peep Show) new comedy, Starlings. Co-written by King and Steve Edge (Star Stories) and produced by Steve Coogan and his fellow Baby Cow Productions ringleader, Henry Normal, Starlings looks like it’s shaping up to be a mix of Peep Show humour, Shameless and The Royale Family shambles, Outnumbered anarchy and 2 Point 4 Children family fun.

Starlings began filming in August 2012 and will be broadcast on Sky 1 HD in spring 2012. It continues Sky’s new dedication to creating original British television shows, which can’t be bad when it’s final delivery incorporates the likes of Steve Coogan and Matt King.

The show will be set in a shook up family home as their granddad, played by Alan Williams, is forced to live with them after a rebellious altercation at his former old people’s home. The father of the family is played by Brendan Coyle, current man servant in Downton Abbey, and along with wife Jan (Lesley Sharp of Bob and Rose fame), sixteen year old ladette daughter Charlie, lizard loving son Gravy, and pretty Bell they have to make do with their newly messed up lives.

Set in Matlock, Derbyshire, Starlings is a slice of mad-cap midlands life. Matt King will be fronting the role of Uncle Loz (inevitably) and Steve Edge will be putting in a showing as Jan’s nephew Fergie, who is dead set on camping in the garden of the over-trumped house following a bout of homelessness.

Starlings has got a lot of potential, with its big name comedy might and down to earth, 2.7 family content to work with. With the talk of it being a comedy drama, and Steve Coogan as the producer, expect there to be dark patches rippling throughout.