The new six-part comedy will explore the messy pitfalls and idiosyncrasies of navigating adulthood through wicked humour, daft anecdotes, and unsettling truths.
Written and created by Camilla Whitehill, Big Mood promises to be a vivacious and rebellious portrayal of female friendship when infiltrated by the complexities of a serious mental illness and will be produced by Dancing Ledge Productions.
Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West lead as best friends Maggie and Eddie, who have lived in each other’s pockets for ten years, through thick, thin, and multiple challenging eyebrow trends.
But with the rest of their lives looming, careers hanging in the balance, and Maggie’s bipolar disorder making an unwelcome return to form, Eddie begins to question whether this friendship is really in their best interests.
It’s a pivotal point in both their lives, bringing to the surface those all-important questions. Could sleeping with your former History teacher be the key to happiness? Is a basement Rat Hotel a functional alternative to pest control? How do you stop your new psychiatrist from giving you worry dolls? With their twenties behind them, Maggie and Eddie’s relationship faces the future, can it survive?
Speaking about Big Mood, writer Camilla Whitehall said "Getting my own Channel 4 comedy still feels like some kind of long form prank, Punk’d style. But on the off chance it isn’t, I am beside myself to be making this show with such an incredible team of people, a cast that I’d be jealous of if it wasn’t my cast, and for a channel that’s produced some of my favourite shows of all time."
On playing Maggie, Nicola Couglan said "When I first met Camilla Whitehill long, long ago, during the time of Indie Sleaze, I quickly realised she was one of the funniest and most talented people I’d ever met. It was always our dream for us to work on something together, and now Channel 4 are making that dream come true. I can’t wait to make this show with this amazing group of people."
And on playing Eddie in Big Mood, Lydia West said "I'm so happy to be working with Camilla and Nicola on this project. The writing is genius, and the subject explores the mental health struggles that all of our generation face - coupled with how to navigate complicated, loving and nuanced friendship. Channel 4 is the perfect home for this heart-warming, hilarious, savvy comedy and I feel truly honoured to tell this story which touched my heart."
Big Mood will be directed by Rebecca Asher, produced by Georgie Fallon, executive produced by Lotte Beasley Mestriner and by Laurence Bowen and Chris Carey for Dancing Ledge Productions.
Speaking about today's news, Laurence Bowen and Chris Carey said "We’ve always loved Camilla’s writing so producing her first series with Channel 4 is an absolute treat. Her writing is laugh out loud funny because it’s truthful and that’s what makes her such a star. Add to that two of the best actors in the world, Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West, and one of the finest directors, Rebecca Asher, and we’re well and truly made up."
Big Mood will air on Channel 4