Victorian crime-solving comedy series ‘Year of the Rabbit’ announced

Channel 4 has ordered a full series of Toast of London star Matt Berry’s latest TV comedy following a successful pilot last year.

“Irreverently and profanely inspired by the unhinged chaos of Victorian-era London,” Year of the Rabbit will be written by Emmy Award-winners Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil (Veep), with additional material from Matt Berry.

The BAFTA award-winning IT Crowd actor commented: “I’m very much looking forward to working with Channel 4 again, and IFC for the first time, as I’m equally looking forward to stepping back in time to fight crime in the same significant year which bought us Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, The Elephant Man and of course Jack The Ripper.”

The cast also includes Freddie Fox (Parade’s End) and Susan Wokoma (Chewing Gum).

Fiona McDermott, Head of Comedy at Channel 4, said: “Imagine The Sweeney in Victorian England and you’re getting close to the heady misguided machismo that runs rife in this series. It’s an amazing vehicle for Matt’s talents and together with Susan and Freddie and the wealth of talent off-camera, we are thrilled to have it on the channel.”

The official synopsis reads: “This brand new series follows Detective Inspector Rabbit (Matt Berry), a hardened booze-hound who’s seen it all, and his new, hapless, by-the-books partner (Freddie Fox). While they’re investigating a local murder, the lewd but insightful adoptive daughter (Susan Wokoma) of the chief of police joins them, becoming the country’s first female officer. Together, the trio must fight crime while rubbing shoulders with street gangs, crooked politicians, Bulgarian princes, spiritualists, music hall stars and the Elephant Man.”

Six 30-minute episodes of Year of the Rabbit will start filming later this year and will air in 2019.