A new BBC series, Can You Keep a Secret? starring Dawn French and Mark Heap has been announced, with filming now underway
11:06, 11 Mar 2025Updated 12:02, 11 Mar 2025
Mandip Gill, Mark Heap, Dawn French and Craig Roberts star in BBC’s Can You Keep a Secret? (Image: BBC)
Dawn French has teamed up with Friday Night Dinner favourite Mark Heap for a new BBC project.
The actress is set to star in upcoming drama Can You Keep a Secret? alongside actor Mark, who is best-known for his portrayal of Jim in the Channel 4 comedy.
Dawn and Mark are joined by Craig Roberts, known for appearing in Submarine and The Fundamentals of Caring, and Mandip Gill, famed for starring in Doctor Who and This Time Next Year.
Filming for the new six-part series, which will be released on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, is now underway, the broadcaster announced on 10 March. The show is written by Simon Mayhew-Archer, the producer of hit comedy This Country.
Dawn French’s latest project has been unveiled(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
READ MORE: Channel 4’s Four in a Bed fans distracted by couple as they fume ‘I’m going to vomit’READ MORE: BGT child star who lost final to Paul Potts looks unrecognisable 18 years later
Dawn portrays Debbie Fendon, while Mark plays her husband William. They are joined by their son Harry, played by Craig, and his wife Neha, portrayed by Mandip.
Debbie is initially introduced as a widow following the untimely passing of her husband William, but it’s soon revealed that things aren’t all they appear to be. William didn’t really die, he was mistakenly declared dead, leaving him and Debbie presented with an opportunity they couldn’t pass; the promise of a life insurance pay out which means they can live out the rest of their years in peace.
William soon begins hiding out in the family’s loft, but the pressure of keeping the secret proves to be almost too much for Harry. He is faced with a diffiuclt situation as his wife Neha is a local police officer, and should she find out about her in-laws’ scheming ways, there could be a big problem for the Fendon family.
Harry, having found out his father isn’t dead after all, is suddenly under immense pressure, especially with his own family to look after.
Mark Heap is best-known for playing Jim in Friday Night Dinner
Can You Keep a Secret? is set in the West Country. The series was commissioned by Jon Petrie, Director of BBC Comedy. Can You Keep a Secret? is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution
A release date for Can You Keep a Secret? is yet to be announced by the BBC.
Dining and Cooking