The new BBC One comedy series Scarborough starts on Friday. We spoke to creator, writer and director Derren Litten about what we can expect from the series.
Can you tell us what Scarborough’s about?
It’s basically an ensemble show, but at the heart of the show are Mike and Karen who are in their late 30s and are giving their relationship another go. They were together for five years a long time ago - in the meantime Karen’s been married and divorced.
Scarborough’s their story, with the friends and family that surround them in a small town.
Why did you choose Scarborough?
I wanted somewhere that was a nice backdrop, but somewhere that wasn’t too obvious. I know Scarborough quite well, I’m from Hull and we used to go there for day trips. I’m not sure if when people think of Scarborough, they just think of Blackpool and other northern seaside towns.
I think people will be surprised. It’s so beautiful and quaint. We have Doc Martin and we see how beautiful that part of the world is. I think people will be surprised when they see Scarborough, it certainly looks beautiful.
When I started writing this show, I went up there several times. Then we made a pilot, so between that and making the pilot I’ve probably been there as many times as I’ve been to Benidorm!
What attracted me was it’s a town that has a village feel. I wanted the characters to be gossipy and everyone knowing everybody’s business, which I’d hate. But it does make a good TV show.
How does it feel going back up north after so long in Benidorm?
I live in London and Spain, but most of my friends are around Manchester way. So it was great to head back to a part of the world that I know fairly well, but rarely go there. Also, all of the cast were amazed - most had never been to Scarborough before. They couldn’t believe it.
The thing I like about Scarborough, is it’s very small. When I first wrote Benidorm I’d never been there. I was going to visit one long weekend and a mate of mine said, "Oh you won’t get into a hotel, the rugby’s on."
And I was just thinking, "Oh God, how many hotels are there in Benidorm, six?" I got to Benidorm and it’s enormous, it’s huge! Scarborough, because the old town is the very picturesque, visible part of it, that’s very small you can walk it in half an hour.
I was so pleased when the BBC suggested we do the screening in Scarborough.
Where do you do most of your writing?
I tend to write better when I’m in Spain. Just last year, I’ve built an office in the back of the house, between the lemon and orange trees. It’s a tiny little office but the door locks and the blinds go down, so when I’m there I can work really easily. When I’m in London, I’ve got an office in my house but I tend to write better when I’m in Spain.
How did you start out in the industry?
I actually started out as an actor, I worked as an actor for ten years.
My best friend from drama school Catherine Tate got her own TV show and asked me to write for her. I’d never written anything before, I didn’t even have any aspirations to write. I just wrote stuff that made me laugh and that I liked. Fortunately, other people liked it too!
After two series of Cathy’s show, Geoffrey Perkins asked me to write my own show. I didn’t want to do a sketch show but Geoffrey said he wanted a comedy narrative. I didn’t even know what a comedy narrative was. So I didn’t have any preconceptions of what was required from me, I just did what I thought was funny.
Any advice for people looking to become a writer?
I always find it hard when people ask me advice on how to start a career as a writer. As I said, I didn’t aspire to be a writer, someone asked me and I did it.
I think my best piece of advice would be don’t try to emulate other people.
Don’t write the next Benidorm, don’t write the next Fleabag. Write the first show that you’re going to write. Don’t copy anybody else’s style and don’t think what people want, the last thing to do is think, "Oh, what’s hot at the moment?" Just do what is in your brain and get it out there.
Watch Scarborough on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9.30pm on Friday 6 September.