Legendary Channel 4 sitcom returning for fifth series, confirms star
THE stars and creators of an award-winning sitcom have confirmed that it will return for a fifth series.
The fourth series hits our screens next week, but The Sun can reveal that writing has already begun on another run.
In an interview with Saturday’s TV Mag, Meet The Richardsons’ creators and stars Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont admitted they were thinking up storylines for the next series of the mockumentary-style sitcom in which the husband and wife play fictionalised versions of themselves.
Lucy said: “Yes, we have another series commissioned. The idea for the next series is that we want to do a sitcom and make it a bit like Heartbeat with gags, but because Jon wants to retire soon, he wants to win an award, so he wants the sitcom to be more surreal and abstract.
“So each of us goes and comes up with ideas for our own sitcom, then we take it to a focus group and we have to come back together.”
Jon and Lucy – who also host Odd Couples on Channel 4 – launched Meet The Richardsons on Freeview channel Dave in 2020.
This fourth series sees Jon and Lucy move house and celebrate Jon’s 40th birthday, while guest stars include Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Ben Elton and Adrian Chiles.
The show is co-written by Tim Reid, who was a writer on Peter Kay’s Car Share, and won a Broadcast Digital Award for Best Comedy in 2021.
Lucy was also nominated for a BAFTA for Female Performance in a Comedy Programme at this year’s TV awards.
But she revealed that they don’t ask the famous faces who make cameos to remember lines.
Lucy said: “When we have actors come on board, we’re not expecting them to do lines. Whatever is funny will stay in.
“It really does feel like we’re playing all day, it’s a lovely way to film. I couldn’t imagine learning lines.”
Jon adds: “I think they have learnt not to write for me because I can’t act, and I am too arrogant to learn the script.”
The fourth series of Meet The Richardsons begins on Wednesday April 5 at 10pm on Dave. TV Mag is free inside The Sun every Saturday.