I'm With Stupid is the brainchild of Manchester writer Peter Keely and is written by Danny Peak.
Peter is a 21-year-old wheelchair user who has never previously written
for television.
He emerged during the Comedy Unit's search for new northern writers.
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Peter has cerebral palsy and has been in a wheelchair from an early age.
Danny won the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Talent New Sitcom Writers Award in 2002. He
has previously written Bunk Bed Boys which was shown on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ THREE as
part of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Talent Week in March 2003. He has also written episodes
of Two Pints of Lager and A Packet of Crisps and My Hero.
I'm With Stupid follows the unlikely relationship between the two central
characters - Paul and Sheldon.
They feel rejected by society but each has something that the other
wants - Paul needs a friend and Sheldon needs a home.
When they meet one night at a police station, Paul invites Sheldon
to stay the night at his purpose built sheltered accommodation.
Things get worse when Paul's neighbour offers up a gross-out bet which
he can't refuse.
Although the bet goes wrong, Sheldon ends up staying and becomes irrevocably
trapped in the weird and wonderful world of Paul.
Executive producer and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Editor of Comedy Kenton Allen said: "I'm
With Stupid is a very contemporary Odd Couple comedy that explores disability
in a funny and truthful way.
"Peter and Danny have written a really original script with two
fascinating central characters and we think it shows great potential."
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Half of the cast of I'm With Stupid are registered disabled. Together with Paul Henshall, the cast includes: Alan Martin who plays Graham, who communicates via controlled voice technology (a voicebox), and Kevin Davies who plays Syd.
Other cast include Ruth Jones (Fat Friends)
who plays Jean, the warden at the sheltered accommodation where Paul
lives; Steve Edge who plays Sergeant Swithenbank; and
Seymour Mace who plays Joe, another homeless man.
I'm With Stupid is the second of two pilots already commissioned by
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ THREE - the first, 10:96, stars
Chris Bisson and Neil Fitzmaurice and tells the story of two men, one
police car and a night on the estate from hell.
Filming on I'm With Stupid will start in March 2005 in and around Manchester
and both I'm With Stupid and 10:96 will be shown on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ THREE in March
2005 as part of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ New Talent Week.
Other productions already announced from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Comedy-North include:
the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ THREE comedy Ideal which stars Johnny Vegas as a small-time
dope dealer;
and Funland, a darkly twisted comic
thriller set in and around Blackpool. Written by Simon Ashdown and Jeremy
Dyson, Funland will start filming in Spring 2005.
I'm With Stupid will be produced by Jon Mountague, directed by Dominic
Brigstock and the executive producer is Kenton Allen.
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