Our SHOW must go on!

Good Omens co-stars David Tennant and Michael Sheen reveal all about the challenges of filming their new lockdown comedy at home.

- SEAN MARLAND

STAGED

NEW WEDNESDAY / BBC1 / 10.45PM & 11PM (N IRELAND, 11.15PM & 11.30PM) / EPS 1 & 2 of 6 / COMEDY

A top-notch script has been written and the crème de la crème of British acting talent has been confirmed for the cast, but just as rehearsals for a new West End play start, lockdown begins and everyone’s placed on furlough!

That’s the premise of Staged, a new BBC1 comedy that reunites Good Omens stars David Tennant and Michael Sheen, and follows the actors as they try to keep things on track during the current pandemic.

Filmed entirely at their homes via a combination of self-shooting and video conferencing technology, the six-parter will also star David’s wife, Georgia Tennant (In the Dark), and Michael partner, Swedish actor Anna Lundberg. There will also be some fun cameos along the way.

Here, David, 49, and Michael, 51, explain what it takes to make TV during lockdown…

What’s the new show like?

MICHAEL: It’s about two young, plucky actors, David and Michael. We play ourselves – we’re the best casting for it! The premise is that we were going to be doing a play together. Then lockdown happened and the director, Simon Evans, who also plays himself, wants to try and keep things going whilst we’re in lockdown using video calls.

Then, when it’s all over, we’ll be ready to go into a theatre before anyone else. That idea goes down better with David than it does with me!