Dawn French’s Can You Keep a Secret? has been renewed at the BBC for a second season having just wrapped its first. Paramount+ co-produced Season 1 but hasn’t yet gone for Season 2, with the streamer having launched Season 1 later than the BBC.
Simon Mayhew-Archer’s show starring Craig Roberts, Mark Heap and Mandip Gill is the BBC’s third biggest comedy launch on iPlayer over the past two years, the BBC said, while its first eps have been watched by more than 5 million.
Can You Keep a Secret? follows Debbie Fendon (French), a domineering granny, who loses her reclusive husband William (Heap), and makes a reckless decision to safeguard her family’s future. However, William isn’t dead. Declared deceased by mistake, he’s hiding in the loft while they await the life insurance payout. The scheme shocks their high-strung son Harold (Roberts), whose wife, Neha (Gill), is a local police officer.
All main cast are returning for Season 2, with plot details being kept under wraps for now. Paramount+ jumped aboard Season 1 at a time of co-pro slowdown in the UK but hasn’t yet joined Season 2.
Can You Keep a Secret? comes from Big Talk Studios, Mayhay Studios and CBS Studios, with Paramount Global Content Distribution selling worldwide.
French said: “As chuffed as an actual chuff to hear that we have a second series. More chance for Debbie to get her bossy boots on and create further havoc.”
Mayhew-Archer added: “Making this series was a joyous experience. Comedy is a team game, and Dawn, Mark, Craig, Mandip and the whole cast and crew are dream collaborators.”
Filming for series two will take place later this year in the West Country. Transmission details will be revealed in due course.
Can You Keep a Secret? Season 2 was commissioned by Jon Petrie, Director of BBC Comedy. The EPs are Kenton Allen, Mayhew-Archer, French and Toby Welch. The series is written and created by Mayhew-Archer. The commissioning editors for the BBC are Gregor Sharp and Roya Eslami.
