Sky One Orders GCHQ Workplace Comedy ‘Intelligence’ Starring David Schwimmer
After years of British stars taking over Hollywood, it seems the US stars are now returning the favour as David Schwimmer joins a new UK-based workplace comedy from Sky One titled ‘Intelligence‘.
The 6-part series comes from actor/writer Nick Mohammed, and is based in Cheltenham and set in the UK’s highly regarded Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). When a power-hungry, maverick NSA agent (Schwimmer) comes over to join an inept and tactless computer analyst (Mohammed) and a newly-formed team tackling cybercrime, everything they know is shaken up.
“Nick Mohammed has written a brilliantly funny comedy series in Intelligence,” comments Jon Mountague, Head of Comedy, Sky Entertainment. “David & Nick are hilarious together and so perfectly represent the special relationship between our two great nations. I can’t wait.”
David Schwimmer really needs no introduction, as one of the ‘Friends’ cast, he is pretty much a household name. Nick Mohammed has written various tv movies including ‘Mr Swallow’s Valentine’ and ‘Morning Has Broken’, along with starring in shows & films such as the ‘Reggie Perrin’ remake, ‘The Job Lot’, ‘The Martian’, voicing Piglet in ‘Christopher Robin’ and playing Roopesh in the utterly brilliant ‘Uncle’.
“Getting to work with David has been an absolute dream come true,” adds Mohammed. “He’s collaborative, honest and exquisitely funny and I couldn’t be more delighted and flattered by his involvement. On saying that, we did initially offer the part to the local shoplifter from Blackpool, but he wasn’t available sadly. Either way, we hope that everyone at GCHQ is as excited about this series as we are. I presume they were aware of this series being green-lit way before we ever were…”
Mohammed will write, star and executive produce the series. Schwimmer will star and executive produce. ‘Intelligence’ is a co-production with Expectation and Dark Harbor Stories. Executive producer is Nerys Evans for Expectation.
“Even though the stakes are really high for the team, fighting cyber-crime, our six-part comedy series reveals the reality is not dissimilar to any other office environment, from temperamental photocopiers to meeting rooms being double booked,” says Nerys Evans, Expectation’s Creative Director, Comedy. “David Schwimmer and Nick Mohammed have a fantastic ‘odd couple’ chemistry and the scripts are brilliantly funny, we can’t wait to see the world of Intelligence come to life.”
Schwimmer is the second high-profile US star to join a UK-based show in recent months. Back in October, ITV announced Rob Lowe would be starring in crime drama ‘Wild Bill‘, which sees the US actor take the role of a high-flying US police chief who moves to East Lincolnshire Police Force.
No news on when ‘Intelligence‘ will arrive on Sky One yet, but keep an eye on the site for more in 2019.
