Chaos and Comedy

Bill Beam (Rob Brydon) is a well-meaning but over enthusiastic divorcee who rents his spare rooms to four students to stay financially afloat.

As Bill tries – and often fails to be both responsible landlord and honorary housemate, he and his mismatched lodgers muddle through chaos, growing pains and unexpected friendships. Can they overcome their differences, embrace their found family, and help each other muddle along? Can Bill learn to be both landlord and land…friend? Probably not, because he’ll get too excited and screw everything up, but let’s see.

Bill’s Included (6 x 30) is a Baby Cow production, part of BBC Studios, for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. The show is written by Ben Ashenden and Alexander Owen. The executive producers are Rupert Majendie, Ben Ashenden, Alexander Owen, Rob Brydon, Tom Basden, Justine Randle and Steve Coogan. Produced by Lauriel Martin and directed by Dave Lambert for Baby Cow. The commissioning editors for the BBC are Ben Caudell and Roya Eslami. BBC Studios is handling global sales.

Watch Bill’s Included on iPlayer and BBC One from Friday 20 November

Meet the Bill’s Included Cast

Rob Brydon (Bill Beam)

What can you tell us about Bill’s Included?

Bill’s Included is a traditional sitcom. It involves my character, Bill Beam, right at the beginning of episode one he comes home to discover that his wife is having an affair with their gardener. She leaves him and he’s left alone in the house, and he doesn’t like being alone.

He sees that there’s been a fire at the local university halls of residence and there’s a housing crisis. So, he has the bright idea of renting rooms to students. He ends up with four different students who come to live in his house, and he does his very best to be their friend. He calls himself a land friend, not a landlord. And then, of course, we get into all sorts of scrapes.

Would you say there are any similarities between yourself and Bill?

We’re very similar height. I can be guilty of being a bit of a people pleaser, not to his extent of course. I think what we’ve done in this to some degree is take some of my own traits and just exaggerate them for comic effect. When we started the project a few years ago, it was quite a different character and then the more we developed it we decided it was a good idea just to lean more into me and elements of me and just amplify them.

What drew you to the role?

I haven’t done a sitcom since Gavin & Stacey. I’d been hosting shows like Destination X, Would I Lie to You?, The Floor, I did my travel country music documentary and I missed it and I wanted to do it. It was my friend Steve Coogan’s company Baby Cow, they started to develop some scripts for me. This must have been 4 or 5 years ago, maybe more. It went through several iterations until we ended up where we are now.

How would you describe Bill’s relationships with his lodgers? You mentioned that he wants to be a land friend more than a landlord.

I suppose he has a slightly different relationship with each one, because you’ve got the four different types of students. Hetty and James are the two warmer characters and then you’ve got Christian and Zahra, and they’re a bit more cynical, a bit more worldly. He wants to be their friend, he wants to offer them advice but, in many ways, he ends up learning as much from them and they help each other out.

Would you say that’s his biggest challenge, trying to be more of a friend?

While he’s being this land-friend landlord and trying to keep the house running smoothly, he’s also on the lookout for new romance and he’s having to get on with other parts of his life. He’s very fond of his next-door neighbour, Siobhan, played by Sam Spiro, and they have an understanding, and as we’re watching it, you think, he really ought to be with Siobhan. They seem to really get on with each other, really understand each other.

What was it like working with the cast?

Great. I worked with Nigel Lindsay before; we did a thing called Best of Men together in 2012. I never worked with Kevin Eldon, although we’re from similar comedy worlds. The actors playing the students were all new to me. I’d met Sam (Spiro) but hadn’t worked with her before. It was a really nice cast; it was a very harmonious cast. Fenella (Woolgar), who Bill goes on the date with, I’ve done a radio play with her years and years and years ago. And at the time, I remember thinking, I’d love to work with her again, so when I saw the role in the script. I remember thinking, oh, she’d be great for that.

Did you have any sort of standout or memorable moments from filming?

Yes, in episode six Bill is feeling very left out so he buys a Mazda MX5 and I had to drive that a little bit and I did enjoy it because I’d never driven one of those before.

What was your relationship like with the younger cast on set?

I remember that at the end of filming, one of them said to me, “Thanks for being nice and for spending time with us between setups.” My reaction was, “Well, of course I did. We’re all actors on this show.” A few of them would say, “I grew up watching you on the telly,” which is an odd thing to hear because you don’t really think of yourself that way. I mean, you’re aware to some degree that you have a certain status, but mostly you think of yourself as just an actor doing the job.

I remember one of them saying that to me, and it made me think, “Oh, yeah.” From their perspective, they might assume that the well-known bloke isn’t going to spend time with them, but that’s not how it is. We’re all actors together. I loved being around them, partly because of their energy. They’re young, and that’s great.

It was also interesting to hear their perspective on the industry. They knew who was being cast in what, who was directing which projects, and it reminded me of how I used to be.

Did you recognise elements of yourself in them?

Well, a little bit, yeah. They’d remind me of myself sometimes. I remember we were walking back from lunch one day, while we were rehearsing, and they were talking about a part one of them had been up for but hadn’t got. I said, “Do you ever have that thing where you walk past a bus advert for a film and suddenly think, ‘Oh God, I auditioned for that,’ even though you’d completely forgotten about it?” I said that it doesn’t really matter after a while, and they replied, “Well, that’s because you’ve got so much going on.”

At first, I thought it was more to do with getting older and becoming a bit more mature, but I think they were right. I do have lots of different things going on, and that changes your perspective. When I was their age, I would’ve remembered every audition and every missed opportunity. And, to be honest, I hadn’t got to where they are now. I wasn’t appearing in a BBC One sitcom. At their age, I was still scrambling around trying to get seen by casting directors.

How would you say Bill’s Included compares to some of your previous work in comedy?

He’s [Bill] a good hearted, well-meaning character and the roles I’m best known for, Bryn, Keith Barrett they all have that quality. I’ve played other roles, I played a very malevolent chap in a thing with Tom Burke about Napoleon, I played Kenneth Tynan – complex character. But the ones I’m known for tend to be affable, even in The Trip although I’m caustic in it to Steve and catty, I’m essentially this affable me. So, it’s similar to those, but the situation is different. But it’s not a Daniel Day Lewis like transformation it has to be said.

And what do you think audiences will enjoy most about Bill’s included?

What I hope they’ll enjoy is just being in that world. I hope they will want to be in this world with these very appealing characters who get up to all sorts. A lot of the shows that I’ve had the most success with Gavin & Stacey, Would I Lie to You? you like spending time with those people. Within that you always want a sharpness to the comedy, little bit of edge to it.

Dylan Brady (Christian)

Tell us about your character?

Christian is a well-meaning (if infuriating) kid who is desperate to be liked and dead set on making that quite difficult for all involved. He’s sheltered, privileged, concerned with image to a fault, but ultimately he loves his friends and wants everyone to have a good time and make the most of this short, exciting chapter in their lives.

What attracted you to the role when you first read the script?

I knew Christian would be great fun to play from the off. It was like someone had taken all the annoying, unfiltered parts of me, dialled them up by a hundred and put them on a page. It felt like an opportunity to both play outside of myself and lean into my worst instincts, which sounded great. I hadn’t done much comedy either so it felt like a new challenge.

How would you describe your character’s relationship with Bill?

Christian is probably the most vocal about his disdain for their 60 year old live-in landlord from the beginning. None of the students are thrilled to be there, but where they try to find silver linings, Christian sees only disaster. He might have the farthest to go with it, but beneath the angst, Christian is ultimately quite fond of his new found family – including Bill.

Who do you think would be the most difficult housemate to live with in real life?

Christian!

Have you got any funny stories from filming?

Rob’s Michael Caine impression was a frequent highlight.

The show explores different generations living together. What do you think your character learns from Bill?

To be less concerned with what people think. Bill is unashamedly himself – which is often mortifying for all involved – but seeing, in Bill, that embarrassment is not fatal, Christian might be encouraged to find a touch more authenticity in his own life.

If your character could make one house rule, what would it be?

Their lives in the house would be under a total social media embargo at all times.

Which cast member breaks character most often on set?

Yasmin Al-Khudhairi. Or me. Usually because of each other.

If this house-share existed in real life, how long would everybody survive before a major argument?

25 minutes.

What was it like working with Rob Brydon?

It’s all true; he is an absolute delight.

Describe Bill’s Included in one sentence.

A hilarious show for everyone about found family and not always liking them that much either.

Ada Player (Hettie)

Who do you play?

I play a character called Hettie. She’s a bubbly, team player with a touch of prefect energy. She loves everyone in the house before she even knows them and is in a one-sided relationship with her boyfriend. She’s super positive to the point of delusional and doesn’t notice when people don’t like her back. On the surface, she’s an outgoing girly girl, but it feels like the confidence might crumble at any moment.

What attracted you to the role?

I love the weird places her brain goes to and how assertive she is despite how wrong she can be. She is so oblivious and dumb! It’s so nice to get to play a properly silly character. I think sometimes writers can be nervous of making the young women in their shows properly stupid, but I see it as a total gift! More please! Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen write with so much warmth, and she has a lot of vulnerability too. Also Hettie’s so positive that it rewired my brain and I’d go home incredibly happy every night.

What’s Hettie’s relationship with Bill?

Hettie thinks of Bill as an OAP who probably needs help crossing the street and could at any moment have a ‘fall’. She finds him super cute, and patronises him a lot, but loves him. Bill probably thinks Hettie is a little bit dim but well meaning.

Who would be the most difficult housemate to live with?

Christian because he’s snarky and would tear you down constantly. Also, he doesn’t know how to use a washing machine and never closes the fridge door. BUT, also, maybe James because he does fill a bath full of mead.

Do you have any funny Stories from filming?

Ben Ashenden (writer), Alex Owen (writer) and Dave Lambert (director) would be huddled by the monitor all day. Whenever anyone did a good take they would start punching the air and silently screaming like they’d scored a goal in a football match. The energy NEVER dropped over six weeks of filming.

What does Hettie learn from Bill?

Bill teaches her to be a little less sad about her scumbag boyfriend treating her like dirt! (Bill has been through heartbreak, too, so is very wise).

If your character could make a house rule what would it be?

Fairy lights everywhere!

Which actor broke character most on set?

Dylan Brady [plays Christian] and Yas Al-Khudhairi [plays Zahra] had some tongue twister lines, and they kept tripping up! We were sent the blooper real and I noticed that I never smiled or laughed when things went wrong. Absolutely poker faced. A bit scary!

If this house-share existed in real life, how long would everybody survive before a major argument?

If it was real life no one would talk to each other. We’d probably all be in our rooms, doom scrolling and eating pot noodle.

What was it like working with Rob Brydon?

An absolute dream. He was in every scene, so must have been completely knackered. But he seemed to have so much energy and was a force of positivity. I love Gavin & Stacey and Human Remains, and he’s an incredible character comedy actor. So it was amazing to watch him create the brilliant Bill Beam.

Harry Baxendale (James)

Tell us about your character?

James is a sweetheart: a bright eyed, bushy tailed fresher who’s just slightly naïve in the ways of the world. He’s always looking for the positives in any situation and cares deeply about the people around him. This means he’s constantly just trying to make everyone happy, sometimes to the detriment of what he wants, but he’ll always try to find his voice in the end (as long as nobody gets shouty).

What attracted you to the role when you first read the script?

He’s just such a gem of a character, I knew as soon as I read his very first scene that I wanted this job! The vision I had in my head of this sweet, nerdy boy rocking up at his new landlord’s front door, doing his level best to carry bags bigger than him put such a smile on my face, I knew he was the man for me.

How would you describe your character’s relationship with Bill?

In a lot of ways I think James is Bill’s mini-me, I can see him growing up to have the kind of suburban family life Bill (almost) has. Although James’ mead brewing does put a significant smelly wedge in their relationship.

Who do you think would be the most difficult housemate to live with in real life?

Christian, surely. You’d have to chase him to do everything and then when he eventually gets round to it, he’ll probably try to pay someone else to do it for him anyways.

Have you got any funny stories from filming?

Sharing a car journey to set with the legend that is Freddie ‘Parrot Face’ Davies. The commute was only about 10 minutes, but he managed to tell me more showbiz stories than I’ve had hot dinners (and I’ve had a lot of them). Being a Butlins Red Coat in the 60s sounds like the most fun a human being can have. I definitely need to go on a pilgrimage to Blackpool now.

Or the Claudia Winkleman wig was a big highlight for me, nobody could keep it together the first time we saw Kevin (Eldon) in it. Our fabulous director, Dave Lambert, tried it on at the end of the day, and I’m sure he won’t mind me saying that he looked incredibly chic, I have photos to prove it and everything. Moral of the story, we all need to have shoulder length black hair, a fringe that gives people papercuts!

The show explores different generations living together. What do you think your character learns from Bill?

This might sound a bit naff, but I think James learns to be himself, to go after what he wants and not wait around for it!

If your character could make one house rule, what would it be?

Every night HAS to be a games night, preferably a Dungeons and Dragons campaign.

Which cast member breaks character most often on set?

Now I don’t want to throw anybody under the bus, but between takes Mr Rob Brydon had a very good knack of making everybody wet themselves laughing (we all ended up with a very odd parasocial relationship to Michael Caine by the end of filming). Rob should definitely think about making a career out of doing this kind of thing, he’s like proper funny and everything.

If this house-share existed in real life, how long would everybody survive before a major argument?

I give them 48 hours, Christian would probably say something political, Zahra would bring him up on it, they’d start arguing, James would go into panic overdrive because he wouldn’t know who to agree with and probably end up saying completely the wrong thing, and Hettie would start trying to get everybody out to have a good time and they’d all explode. Bill of course would help them pick up the pieces, and all would (most probably) be back to their slightly mad normal by morning.

What was it like working with Rob Brydon?

Fantastic, the man is an absolute gold standard national treasure. So kind, accommodating, a consummate professional and certifiably the funniest human I have ever met. I was quite nervous to meet him, but as soon as he walked through the door on day one of rehearsals he immediately put us all at ease. Also it has to be said, nobody tells a showbiz story like Rob, I have to get my anecdote act together.

Describe Bill’s Included in one sentence.

The brilliantly funny, (me, biased, never) heartwarming misadventures of a landlord with an approval complex and his four student tenants who are just doing their level best to survive first year. Well worth a watch, easy 5 stars.

Yasmin Al-Khudhairi (Zahra)

Tell us about your character?

Zahra is the academic, logical, and serious member of the group. Her goal for university is simple: leave with a medicine degree and avoid the student drama she assumes comes with having a social life. Instead she ends up in a house 90 minutes away from campus living with a group of unhinged students and a landlord in his 50s who she’d describe as a cross between a children’s TV presenter, a golden retriever, and a sad clown.

What I love about her is that the writers Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen have created a character who, although initially appears pretentious and uninterested, is actually very self-conscious. Zahra finds it hard to make friends, so it’s easier for her to pretend she’s above it.

I’m hoping people will see an arc in Zahra’s character over the course of the series where, by the end, she starts to realise that the chaos of being around people completely different to her is exactly where she wants to be.

What attracted you to the role when you first read the script?

In a lot of cases, it’s hard to see the full potential of a comedy script until it’s brought to life by its actors, but the script for Bill’s is absolutely hilarious in its own right. Ben and Alex write in such a refreshing, weird and niche way that I knew I wanted to be in it as soon as I’d finished reading the first few scenes. It’s got the perfect ratio: the absolute silliness of a British sitcom, and a lot of heart.

How would you describe your character’s relationship with Bill?

Zahra and Bill have a special relationship. Bill treats Zahra’s seriousness and studiousness like she’s a mature student his age, firing niche 80s references at her as if she’s his peer. Zahra thinks Bill is weird, and an idiot.

But as time goes on you really see a connection form between them. His relentless optimism (as well as Hettie’s) is initially unbearable to Zahra, but later becomes a trait that she wishes she could possess a fraction of herself. His weirdness becomes endearing to her, and I’d say it’s definitely a reason Zahra realises that what she wants from Uni is to make friends and explore who she is (as well as excel in her studies, obviously).

Eventually, Zahra even takes advice from Bill – but this of course goes terribly wrong.

Who do you think would be the most difficult housemate to live with in real life?

If you want a quiet life, time on your own and value personal space – Hettie or Bill. And if you want to spend your first year partying, oversleeping and missing lectures, then Zahra (who’d be making snide comments while you’re hungover and bang on the walls if there’s any noise after 10pm). But I reckon Zahra has the potential to loosen up.

Have you got any funny stories from filming?

I have a lot because we were all very silly, every day. Not just the cast but the crew were all just so funny and had the best sense of humour. I did split my costume trousers from laughing one day and had to get another pair sent out to me.

If your character could make one house rule, what would it be?

No one talk to Zahra between the hours of 8am – 12pm, and 5pm – 8am, (5 hour talking window).

Which cast member breaks character most often on set?

I’d say everyone kept it together pretty well, but I reckon if you look over the raw footage you can definitely see the pained look in the students’ eyes trying not to break at Rob’s often unexpected deliveries, where we’re desperately waiting for Dave Lambert to call cut. I also struggled with Ada. She doesn’t even need to say anything, she can just give one look or sound as Hettie, and we’ll all end up laughing.

If this house-share existed in real life, how long would everybody survive before a major argument?

Twenty to thirty minutes

What was it like working with Rob Brydon?

It really depends if you like personalised Michael Caine impressions or not. I think they scared Ada, maybe because they are so uncanny. But I can guarantee that every cast and crew member who’s worked with Rob will say he treats everyone the same, with respect and affectionate roasting.

It’s my first time as a series regular in a sitcom, and it felt like having one-to-one classes in comedy working alongside Rob. How he provides his input while respecting the director and writers, how he fires multiple deliveries of lines one after another, and how he conducts himself as an actor.

Everyone on set was shocked and suspicious at how Rob can work a full day be in almost every scene, and not once show any signs of tiredness and irritability. His professionalism and wit alongside Dave, Ben and Alex’s hilarious weirdness and enthusiasm kept everyone in such high spirits the whole way through the shoot.

Describe Bill’s Included in one sentence.

If chaos was a person it would be Bill and he would rent his house out to students, and it would be chaotic but at least the bills are included?