Filming is now underway at the atmospheric Woodchester Park Mansion for the BBC’s upcoming supernatural comedy The Reluctant Vampire, a fresh and playful adaptation of the beloved books by British comedy icon Eric Morecambe.
Woodchester Park Mansion is the perfect location for this spooky comedy, which is set in a timeless English village, where everything is picturesque, everything, that is, except for the vampires living in the castle on the hill who come out at night for a little drink of the locals.
The series is packed with a raft of stellar actors, including Stroud-based Charlie Cooper, BAFTA winner Lenny Rush, Joe Wilkinson, who recently featured in Celebrity Traitors, Billy Bailey and stand-up comedian Ross Noble.
The show follows Val, the “Reluctant Vampire”, who by day explores with fascination his newly discovered human side with the help of village girl Gertie (Ellie May Sheridan), but can never let his secret be known to the locals. Yet by night there’s a coffin-load of expectations from his tradition obsessed vampire dad, Victor, (Tom Davis) his suspicious brother, Vernon, (Gabriel Nagy) and his doting mum Valeeta (Sian Clifford) who is the only one in the family who knows his true self. Val must navigate both worlds without letting his cover be staked.
Lenny Rush says: “How lucky am I to bring to life something from the mind of comedy legend Eric Morecambe? I just love Rob and Neil’s interpretation, so many jokes and brilliant ideas. The flying might be a stretch but I’m game for anything!”
Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy, BBC says: “‘The Reluctant Vampire’ is exactly the kind of distinctive comedy we’re passionate about at the BBC. Rob and Neil Gibbons have brilliantly adapted Eric Morecambe’s work into a sharp, character-driven sitcom that delivers both big laughs and genuine emotion. With the incredibly talented Lenny Rush in the lead role, we’re confident this will become one of the standout comedies of the year.”
