Warren United

Bill Freedman

6 x 30 min family sitcom Kicks off 22 April at 10pm on ITV4

@WarrensBallswww.warrenunited.net

CONTENTS

Warren United – Press Release

The Inspiration behind Warren United

Synopsis of “July” – episode one

Synopsis of “Mascot” – later episode (running order tbc)

Character Profiles

Cast Biographies

Production Biographies

Cast and Production List

Press ReleaseITV warms up for World Cup with new animated sitcom about

family, football and the passion of being a fan

Simon Nye, the writer of Men Behaving Badly, Baby Cow, the production company behind Uncle, Gavin and Stacey, The Mighty Boosh and Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, and leading Canadian animation house, Smiley Guy, have teamed up to bring you this feel-good family comedy just in time for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals on April 22nd and this summer’s World Cup.

Each week, Warren United will follow the fortunes of Warren Kingsley, an overweight kitchen salesman and fervent football fan, as he stumbles through life trying to juggle his two passions – football and family.

There’s only one Warren Kingsley, its loveable but hapless hero. Warren, aged 37 and ½, is a fan for all seasons and a bloke of two halves: both a devoted husband and dad and a diehard fan of Brainsford United, a chronically struggling club, known to its long-suffering fans as 'The Meringues.'

Warren is voiced by BAFTA award-winning Darren Boyd (Spy, Alpha Papa). Nitin Ganatra (EastEnders) voices Dillip, Warren’s best friend, while Morgana Robinson (Vic and Bob’s House of Fools) voices Charlie, Warren’s sulky teenage daughter, and Morwenna Banks (Peppa Pig) voices Warren’s young son Harrison. Eleanor Lawrence (Common Ground) is Warren’s Dutch wife Ingrid and Georgie Glen (Waterloo Road) his young-at-heart mum.

Johnny Vegas voices Fat Baz, the manager of Brainsford United, while Jonathan Kydd and Bertie Portal voice two well-spoken but foul-mouthed police horses, who dispense their views on match-day issues.

Warren United is the brainchild of executive producer, Bill Freedman, who has spent no less than eight years bringing it to the screen. Himself a devoted football fan, he was for decades a key figure in West End theatre as a producer and theatre-owner. Warren United marks his TV debut.

“It’s about the two most important f’s in life – family and football,” says Freedman. “This show is also about the passion of being a fan. Yes, supporting Brainsford United often brings Warren more pain than joy but that’s what makes him a true fan.”

Henry Normal, co-founder of Baby Cow productions, is co-executive producer: “New animated narrative series in this country are so rare,” says Normal. “So are comedies about football, while those about fans even rarer. On several counts, therefore, we’re trying something unusual.”

Angela Jain, ITV Director of Digital Channels and Acquisitions, says: "ITV4 fans love their football and boasting a stellar cast, Warren United is aimed squarely at them. It is about the tricky balance of being a committed fan and a family man – which will strike a chord with many football followers.

“The fact it's an animated comedy series about football makes it distinctive, and we're hoping viewers will take Warren, his family and his other love – Brainsford United – to their hearts."

Written  by  Simon  Nye,  David  Quantick  and  Dominic  Holland  Directed  by  Tim  SearleProduced   by   Jeremy   Diamond   and   Denny   Silverthorne  Co-production   with   leading   Canadian   animation   house,   Smiley   Guy   Studios,  headed     by  executive   producer   Jonas   Diamond  

For  further  information  please  contact  Sophie  Toumazis  or  Elizabeth  Dunk  at  tpr  media  consultants  sophie@tpr-­‐media.com  /  elizabeth@tpr-­‐media.com    +44  (0)20  8347  7020  or  07974  428858.  

The Inspiration Behind Warren United

“I've been a fervent football fan – an Arsenal fan – for nearly 50 years, since moving to London from Canada in the 1960s. But before that I was a fervent ice hockey fan, starting in the 1930s.

“So, Warren United is not really just about football or even sport. It’s partly about the two most important f’s in life – family and football, and the connections between the two. My three children and seven grandchildren are all but one now avid Arsenal fans too.

“But it’s also even broader than that. It's about the passion of being a fan – the passion and loyalty and often the disproportionate importance of being one. Yes, supporting Brainsford United often brings Warren more pain than joy but that’s what makes him a true fan.”

“I think that I long ago noticed that there was something irrationally important about being a fan – something at times ridiculous and therefore comical.

“But when I tried to think of other comedies about being a football fan, I couldn't. So, I thought it would be good to make one. So, Warren United is the first sitcom – maybe the first show of any kind? – about what it really means to be a football fan and why it matters so much.

“The passion and sense of belonging that comes from supporting a football club plays a big role in the lives of many people, including me. As someone once said, ‘Of all the unimportant things in life, football is the most important’. Warren United attempts to show why that is – and to make people laugh in the process.”

By Bill Freedman, its joint Executive Producer, with Henry Normal, and the man whose brainchild it was.

Synopsis of “July” – episode One

An own goal six minutes into stoppage time in the last game of the season keeps Brainsford up! Warren is over the moon until he realises that the first pre-season friendly won’t be for six whole weeks. Dillip (Nitin Ganatra) tries to help by taking Warren (Darren Boyd) to the cricket. It doesn’t work. Reggie (Tony Law) tries to divert him but Warren is unswerved. Finally, Ingrid (Eleanor Lawrence) organises some drastic help. Will Warren finally get a result?

Synopsis of “Mascot” – later episode (running order tbc)

Warren's son Harrison (Morwenna Banks) is chosen to be the mascot at the next Brainsford home game. Warren (Darren Boyd) is ecstatic. The rest of the world less so. When Dave Worsely (Jonathan Kydd), Mr Kitchen Madness himself, summons Warren to his office to tell him that he wants his son to take Harrison’s place Warren won’t sell out will he?…Even for the money he needs for a cataract operation for his Mum (Georgie Glen)? What will he do when all his plans take a huge set back?

Character Profiles

Warren – Our hero

Warren Kingsley, an overweight kitchen salesman and fervent football fan. A loveable but hapless hero, juggles his two passions – football and family. Warren, aged 37 and ½, is a fan for all seasons and a bloke of two halves: both a devoted husband and dad and a diehard fan of Brainsford United, a chronically struggling club, known to its long-suffering fans as 'The Meringues.'

Ingrid – Warren’s wife

Ingrid first met Warren when he fell asleep drunk in her front garden in Eindhoven, the Netherlands after one of the Meringue’s rare moments in Europe. She felt sorry for him and has continued to do so ever since. She’s an intelligent woman and has a ready wit, which she usually deploys at Warren’s expense. He never takes offence though because he rarely understands.

Charlie – Their thirteen-year-old daughter

Charlotte prefers to call herself Charlie. She always dresses in black and can’t understand why people look so happy. They must be stupid. Can’t they see it’s an awful world in which we’re all stumbling blindly through pointless, meaningless lives. Her nihilism is all encompassing – right up to the point where she borrows money from you.

Harrison – Their seven-year-old son

Like his dad, Harrison is also a Meringues' fan but disappoints Warren because there are other things in his life apart from football. He likes football but then he likes everything. He’s the polar opposite of his sister Charlie. He also enjoys spending time with his school-mate Gavin.

Mum – Warren’s Mum

Warren’s mum lives with the family but is very independent. She has an active social life and an eventful love life (which Warren finds distasteful). She is determined to have a good time and doesn't care what people think.

Dillip - Warren’s friend from work

Dillip is a sales manager at Kitchen Magic and is Warren’s best friend. When something confuses Warren, or disturbs him, it is Dillip who he turns to. As Warren is confused and disturbed much of the time, this happens quite a lot. This is not a bad course of action because Dillip is far more sensible than Warren and has a philosophical way of looking at everything the world throws in Warren’s direction.

Reggie – Warren’s Mum’s boyfriend

Reggie is Mum’s current boyfriend. He’s a well-groomed aging lothario who knows he’s struck pay-dirt with Mum. Think the love-child of David Niven and Johnny Vegas.

Gavin – Harrison’s school friend

Gavin is interested in a lot of things most boys aren’t too bothered with. Poetry, art, interior design, Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, shoes, hair...the list is endless.

Burger Al – Food Vendor

Burger Al runs the lard and salt concession that our characters invariably stop at on their way to or from the ground. He’s a background character who occasionally catches our eye as he picks a burger off the floor and blows it clean before placing it in a bun. He also has a stock of zinging one-liners to undercut whatever conversation he’s just overheard.

Fat Baz – Brainsford United Manager

Fat Baz is old school: a manager who speaks his mind and says it as he sees it. He’s worked his way up through the ranks but in many ways he’s still one of the fans, even if the fans are giving him grief. He wants to be left to coach the players without being dragged into the politics of the club. Fat Baz is a character and football needs characters.

Trevor & Michael – Police horses Trevor and Michael are the police horses-stationed outside the ground every Saturday. They work together to give their views on matchday issues, and indeed any other subject that grabs their attention. They would sound pretty much like a Test Match commentary team except they manage to acheive the rare feat of being simultaneously well-spoken and foul-mouthed.

Darren Boyd – Warren

Darren Boyd is well known for his BAFTA-winning role ('Best Comedy Performance') in Sky 1's sitcom Spy (2012). He is also known for playing John Cleese in the BAFTA nominated Holy Flying Circus ('Best Single Drama'). He is a regular face on British television, having recently starred in ITV dramas The Guilty opposite Katherine Kelly and Case Sensitive opposite Olivia Williams. He also starred opposite Stephen Mangan in the series adaptation of Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently. Film roles include Imagine Me and You, Four Lions, World's End and Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa.

Morwenna Banks – Harrison

Morwenna Banks is an award-winning actor, writer and producer. She co-wrote and appeared in four series of the sketch show Absolutely. The team were recently reunited on BBC Radio 4 and in January 2014 won 'The BBC Audio Drama Award for Best Scripted Comedy'. As a writer her debut feature The Announcement won 'Best International Feature' at the New York Independent Film Festival. Most recently, BBC Radio 4 broadcast Banks’ drama Goodbye starring Olivia Colman and fellow Warren United cast member Darren Boyd. She has acted in film and television in Britain and the USA: Saturday Night Live (USA), Dream On, Skins, Saxondale, The Thick of It and recently Svengali. She provides the voices for many animations from Monkey Dust to Peppa Pig. In March 2014 Morwenna won 'Best Voice Performance' at the British Animation Awards for her role in Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom.

Cast Biographies

Nitin Ganatra – Dillip

Nitin Ganatra has played Masood Ahmed on EastEnders since 2007, winning ‘Best Onscreen Partnership’ alongside Nina Wadia at the 2009 British Soap Awards. He is known internationally for his role as Prince Pondicherry in Tim Burton’s 2005 adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and starred in Bride and Prejudice, Gurinder Chadha’s Bollywood-style adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Born in Kenya, Nitin Ganatra came to live in England when he was three-years old. Last summer (2013) he took part in the BBC’s popular series Who Do You Think You Are?

Georgie Glen - Warren's Mum

George Glen is a prolific Scottish actress and a familiar face on British television, best known for her roles as Audrey McFall in Waterloo Road and Sergeant Nokes in Heartbeat. She has appeared in films such as Calendar Girls, Les Miserables, My Week with Marilyn, Mrs Brown and Shakespeare in Love. She has also appeared in Harry Enfield and Chums, Little Britain, The Bill and Nighty Night.

Jonathan Kydd – Michael, Burger Al and other voices

Jonathan Kydd is a British actor who has done over 7,000 voiceovers including animation, adverts, promotions, documentaries and computer games. He performs all the male voices in the cult Ferrero Rocher Ambassador’s Reception TV advert and his voice also features in the recent Hobbit game, as well as all the Harry Potter games. He has appeared in various television series including Jonathan Creek and Trial and Retribution. Jonathan has also made several films, including the award-winning short Ahaarrrr!, and written two musicals. He regularly performs live with his band the Rudy Vees. Jonathan is a massive Chelsea fan. He is a contributor to both the Chelsea FanCast and The Chelsea Podcast.

Tony Law – Reggie

'Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee 2012' and triple 'Chortle Award' winner, Tony Law is one of the most in-demand live acts in the UK. He is a regular face on the comedy circuit and a firm Fringe favourite, with his Edinburgh shows a sell-out success. In 2013 Tony made TV appearances on Charlie Brooker's Screen Wipe, Sue Perkins' sitcom Heading Out, Have I Got News For You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and 8 Out Of 10 Cats.

Eleanor Lawrence – Ingrid

Eleanor Lawrence is a writer and actor whose writing for television includes GUM, SOUP (co- written with Meera Syal), Sunshine Simon (co-written with Tom Davis), White Lace & Promises (co-written with Arabella Weir), Welcome to Rochdale and the feature film Peckham to Pembroke. She has also written for theatre stages including the Lyric, Hammersmith, the Old Vic and Waterloo East. Eleanor’s acting credits include Holby City, Common Ground, Dead Boss, PhoneShop, Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge, Skins, Angelos and Ketch and Hiropon Get It On. She is soon to appear on The Javone Prince Show – a new sketch show for the BBC.

Robert Portal – Trevor

Robert Portal is best known for his roles in films such as The King’s Speech, My Week with Marilyn and British thriller The Iron Lady. He has also appeared in numerous television series, including The Thick of It, The Amazing Mrs Pritchard, Ruth Rendell Mysteries and Ashes to Ashes.

Morgana Robinson – Charlie and Gavin

Winner of ‘Best Comedy Breakthrough Artist’ at the 2012 British Comedy Awards, Morgana Robinson is a comic actress and writer who most recently appeared in Bob Mortimer and Vic Reeve’s House of Fools for BBC Two,as well as Matt Berry’s new Channel 4 sitcom Toast of London. She co-created and starred in The Morgana Show followed by Very Important People, both for Channel 4. Later this year Morgana will be starring in Channel Morgana, a short film to celebrate the re-launch of BBC iPlayer, the new series of Sky Art’s Psychobitches and series two of House of Fools.

Johnny Vegas – Fat Baz

Johnny Vegas is one of the most familiar faces on the UK comedy scene. Making his TV debut in 1996 as a contestant on Win, Lose or Draw, his career has gone from strength to strength. He is best known for his role in the BBC Three sitcom, Ideal (2005-2011), as well as appearing in numerous panel shows, including QI, 8 out of 10 Cats and Have I Got News for You. Johnny has spent the last 12 months directing two dramas for BBC One’s Moving On series and a new Sky Arts drama called Ragged, which features fellow funnyman Ricky Tomlinson. He has also recently appeared as Crunchie Danger Haystacks in Sky 1’s Moone Boy and the BBC’s Mr Stink.

Production Biographies

Henry Normal – Executive Producer

Henry Normal (CEO of Baby Cow Productions) co-created The Royle Family with Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash, and the Paul and Pauline Calf characters with Steve Coogan as well as writing for The Parole Officer, a feature film starring Steve Coogan.

Since 1999, he has devoted his time to running and building Baby Cow Productions. He has executive produced all of Baby Cow’s output for animation, film and television and script edited many of their shows. Baby Cow Productions has produced well known and highly acclaimed TV programmes for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky1, Sky Atlantic, world sales, iTunes and DVD.

These include the cult phenomena The Mighty Boosh, the BAFTA winning comedy drama Gavin and Stacey, Julia Davis’ Hunderby and Moone Boy, an Irish sitcom with Chris O’Dowd which recently won an International Emmy for 'Best Comedy.'

Baby Cow’s most recent television shows and films include Uncle for BBC 3, The Trip to Italy, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa and the Oscar nominated Philomena starring Judi Dench.

Henry grew up in Nottingham during Brian Clough’s glory days at ‘Forest’.

Tim Searle – Animation Producer and Director

In 1989 Tim Searle set up Triffic Films, producers of animation and graphics for dozens of hit shows including Have I Got News For You, The Catherine Tate Show and Ideal. In 2001 he helped create 2DTV with producer Giles Pilbrow and writer Georgia Pritchett. Together they made five series of the award-winning topical sketch show for ITV1 and also worked together on the controversial music promo for George Michael's Shoot the Dog.

In the same year, Tim formed Baby Cow Animation with Steve Coogan and Henry Normal, producing I Am Not An Animal, a surreal animated comedy drama series for BBC Two. Tim continues to run Baby Cow Animation, producing cutting-edge animation for television and is currently at Tiger Aspect directing Mr Bean.

Tim supports West Ham as he grew up in nearby East Ham and loved going with his dad to see the World Cup winning Hammers of the early 70s. Tim and his family are currently season ticket holders at the MK Dons.

Bill Freedman – Executive Producer Bill has been in show business for nearly seven decades, having produced plays in London’s West End, Broadway, and in his native Toronto. He was also the managing director of a group of six West End theatres including the Noel Coward and Wyndhams and, with his family, founded the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Now Bill is making his debut as a TV producer at the age of nearly 85, surely making him Britain’s oldest producer. He is also chairman of Black Diamond Television, a global production company. Warren United is Bill Freedman’s brainchild, which he has spent eight years bringing it to the screen.

Bill has been a fervent Arsenal follower for almost 50 years and attends all home games. His greatest productions are his three children and seven grandchildren, all but one avid Arsenal fans.

Simon Nye – Writer

Simon Nye is one of Britain's most successful comic writers having created more than 20 television shows. The multi-award-winning BBC hit Men Behaving Badly ran for seven series in the UK and was remade in America. Simon's other sitcom hits include 'British Comedy Award' winning Is It Legal?; How Do You Want Me? starring Dylan Moran; Wild West starring Dawn French; Beast starring Alexander Armstrong; and the family comedy The Savages for BBC One.

He has written numerous dramas including Frank Stubbs Promotes with Timothy Spall; Beauty with Martin Clunes; Tunnel of Love with Jack Dee; and Pride, an Emmy- nominated film starring Kate Winslet. Television adaptations include The Railway Children and Pollyanna for ITV and My Family and Other Animals for BBC One. Simon's latest drama based on the life of comedian Tommy Cooper will be broadcast on ITV over Easter. He has also written four pantomimes and translated several plays.

Simon grew up supporting Brighton & Hove Albion then moved to London and, like a boy who becomes a man and swaps a moped for a temperamental Alfa Romeo, now supports Arsenal.

David Quantick – Writer

David Quantick has written for some of Britain’s most ground-breaking comedy shows including Smack The Pony, The Day Today, So Graham Norton, and the controversial Brass Eye. Other writing credits include Harry Enfield’s Brand Spanking New Show, Harry Hill’s TV Burp, and the animated series Angry Kid. He has also contributed to That Mitchell and Webb Sound and The Now Show for BBC Radio 4, as well as The Junkies – the world’s first internet sitcom, viewed by more than a million people since 2000.

David is the author of a number of rock and comedy biographies. His book Grumpy Old Men was one of the top three best-selling comic titles in 2004.

He also contributes regularly to The Word, Esquire and Q magazines. Current projects include writing on HBO's Veep, a new radio series 52 First Impressions, and a comic with Shaky Kane, That's Because You're A Robot, out in June.

Dominic Holland – Writer

Dominic Holland is a 'Perrier Award' winning comedian and has been described as “the UK’s master of observational comedy”. He has written for Clive Anderson, Harry Enfield and Bob Monkhouse, and collaborated with comedy legend Richard Curtis for Comic Relief. Dominic regularly contributes short stories and columns to a range of national newspapers and magazines and has also published three novels and is about to complete his fourth. His second novel, The Ripple Effect is a comic tale of football, politics and jamless jam doughnuts. His Radio 4 stand-up series The Small World of Dominic Holland received a 'Comedy Heritage Award' and this autumn, Hal will air on BBC Radio 4, a sitcom which he has co-written and will also appear in. Dominic continues to perform stand-up across the UK and regularly appears as a panellist on Have I Got News For You.

Dominic is a supporter of Brentford Football Club and lifelong supporter of his four kids.

Mike Wallner – Associate Producer

Mike Wallner is a television producer and writer. Over the last two decades he has produced several hundred programmes across all the major terrestrial channels and Sky. Projects have included five series of How Do They Do That?, a primetime entertainment series for BBC One; Open House With Gloria Hunniford, a live talk show for Channel 5; as well as the reality show Big Brother On The Couch; and property series A Place By The Sea for Channel 4. Mike recently completed a children’s novel The Nosey Porkers and The Theft of The Thing, which is currently in the hands of agents.

Mike is a lifetime Arsenal fan and part- time minder for his hooligan father on game day.

Cast and Production list

Darren Boyd Morwenna Banks Nitin Ganatra Georgie Glen Jonathan Kydd Tony Law Eleanor Lawrence Robert Portal Morgana Robinson Johnny Vegas

WarrenHarrison Dillip Warren’s MumBurger Al, Michael and other ReggieIngridTrevor Charlie, Gavin and other Fat Baz

Henry Normal Bill Freedman Tim Searle Simon Nye David Quantick Dominic Holland Mike Wallner

Executive producer Executive producer Animation producer and directorWriter Writer WriterAssociate producer

@WarrensBalls www.warrenunited.net