Binge announces new comedy, Colin from Accounts.

Binge has begun production in Sydney on its first Australian-made romantic comedy, Colin from Accounts.

The 8-episode series is created and written by, and stars, Patrick Brammall (No Activity, A Moody Christmas) and Harriet Dyer (Wakefield, The Invisible Man).

Centred on Ashley (Dyer) and Gordon (Brammall), two single(ish), complex humans who are brought together by a car accident and an injured dog, Colin from Accounts is about flawed, funny people choosing each other and being brave enough to show their true self, scars and all, as they navigate life together.

The series is produced by Easy Tiger Productions and CBS Studios, with Rob Gibson and Ian Collie producing for Easy Tiger (Jack Irish, Rake, Doctor Doctor, Saving Mr Banks). Directors are Trent O’Donnell (No Activity, The Letdown), Matt Moore (The Great, Diary of an Uber Driver) and Madeleine Dyer. Executive Producers are Brammall, Dyer, O’Donnell, Alison Hurbert-Burns and Brian Walsh.

Binge Executive Director, Alison Hurbert-Burns told TV Tonight, “A fresh Australian comedy felt like a good next step to Binge after Love Me. Brian Walsh and I were saying we just couldn’t remember reading something where we laughed so much. A few weeks ago doing the first table read, it was just laugh out loud. It’s really fresh and funny.

“Harriet’s character is a med student. So we’re shooting at the UTS Nursing University in the city and across Sydney.”

Discussions on the series began in 2020 but the pandemic also opened a window of opportunity when Brammall and Dyer returned from the USA. Following drama series Love Me, it will mark the first comedy commission for Binge which, unlike Free to Air networks, doesn’t have concerns about how to schedule a half hour comedy.

“We can luxuriate in that. Episodes can be different lengths if they need to, as well. These obviously go out on on Foxtel as well who have the commercial hour considerations to fill a bit more, but certainly for our audience, it could be 20 minutes, 40 minutes an hour,” Hurbert-Burns said.

Easy Tiger’s Rob Gibson and Ian Collie said: “Dyer, Brammall, rom-com, cute dog: what’s not to love? It’s a delight to be working on this hilarious and big-hearted show with Harriet, Patrick, Trent, Matt and Maddy, which is a ridiculous amount of talent all in the one place.

“We’re very grateful to our partners at Binge and CBS Studios, who immediately saw the appeal of Colin from Accounts for their audiences in Australia and around the world, and also of course to Screen Australia and Screen NSW for their wonderful support.”

Screen Australia’s CEO Graeme Mason said, “We’re thrilled to support creators Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall whose careers have been exploding overseas, as they join forces on this relatable and charming home-grown comedy. Teaming up with the talented producers at Easy Tiger, Colin from Accounts will undoubtedly delight and resonate with viewers on Binge.”

Head of Screen NSW Grainne Brunsdon said: “Screen NSW is joining forces with the Foxtel Group and Screen Australia to secure another original series for NSW’s highly skilled screen industry.

“Colin from Accounts is a Binge original series that aligns the production know-how of Easy Tiger with the creative team of Patrick Brammall, Harriet Dyer and Trent O’Donnell for an exciting rom com series set in Sydney.

“I know this 100% NSW-made production will deliver laughs for audiences at home and abroad,” Brunsdon said.

Binge is yet to formally announce a second season for Love Me, but Hurbert-Burns gives reason for optimism.

“Love Me felt like it was very embraced by Australia and I don’t know if it was being after a big year, COVID and Christmas, but certainly the sentiment that we hoped it would tap into it seems to have connected with. It was very positively received by our audiences and all the different things that we look at, beyond just viewing numbers … engagement, binge-ability and social media commentary, it was really positive.

“We were thrilled to get out of the gate with our first one with that and we’d love to see where we can go with another season.”

The series is distributed outside Australia and New Zealand by ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group. The series commissioned for the Foxtel Group will be produced by Easy Tiger Productions and CBS Studios. It has major production funding from Screen Australia with support from Screen NSW.