US television network ABC has given a "cast-contingent" pilot order for a sitcom based on the BBC Three series White Van Man, it has been confirmed.

Written by acclaimed standup comedian (and sometimes actor) Adrian Poynton, White Van Man follows the antics of a reluctant handyman, Ollie Curry, who is forced to take up the small family business when his father suffers a heart attack.

Whilst transmission of the second UK series of White Van Man is due in February 2012 (written by Adrian Poynton), the US adaptation for the Disney-owned ABC network has been written by Bobby Bowman, whose writing and producing credits include My Name Is Earl, Family Guy and Raising Hope.

Interviewed by the British Comedy Guide, writer and creator Adrian Poynton said:

It's all a bit silly really. I was overjoyed just to get the UK series away (let alone series two), but the fact some people in Hollywood have seen it and want to do a US remake is just mind boggling.

These things are so hard to get right but I have total faith in the American team. They've worked and succeeded on a collection of shows I really like and feel honoured to even have my little show on their radar. I'm also very happy with the level of input they want from me.

They have a really interesting take on the show and I'm very excited to see it grow and become its own beast. Who knows how far it will go.

ITV Studios America CEO Paul Buccieri said in a statement:

White Van Man has a great following in the U.K. and is a universal story, one that translates very well across countries and cultures. There is humor and drama and tremendous potential for this series in the U.S. and we are thrilled that we have Bobby's brilliance, and the pedigree of the Mark Gordon Co. behind the project.

The second series of the original BBC Three show, which stars Will Mellor, Joel Fry, Georgia Moffett and Clive Mantle, will broadcast in February 2012.

The first series premiered in March 2011, gaining an average audience of 750,000 viewers, and was swiftly recommissioned by new channel boss Zai Bennett.

• White Van Man's Will Mellor answers your questions (External link)

• Interview with Will Mellor
• White Van Man General Gallery
• Interview with Georgia for The Radio Times
• Interviews with Adrian Poynton

• Series 1 Episode Guide (plot summaries, airdate details and episode cast details)
• Series 2 Episode Guide (plot summaries, airdate details and episode cast details)

• Series 1 Episode Gallery (screencaps and clips from the episodes)

• Series 1 BBC Clip Archive (BBC published promotional clips and trailers for Series 1)

• White Van Man on DVD

The British Comedy Guide produced their TV Review of the Year, listing 60 of the big television shows of 2011.

The annual list covers the best and worst of British Comedy for 2011. Amongst the listed this year is White Van Man - this is what the British Comedy Guide had to say in it's review:

A surprise hit to some, White Van Man proved to many that Will Mellor really is a proper actor, and capable of far more than the cheeky Gaz he has played in Two Pints for the past decade.

First-time sitcom writer Adrian Poynton managed to pack brilliant dialogue with a handful of wonderful characters and some great plots. Admittedly the laughs were a little unbalanced - thin at times, and constant at others - but there was plenty to enjoy, and how he created a character who is probably the most annoying to ever grace any sitcom anywhere in the world ever, we don't know!

A second series is due for broadcast in the spring, and an American adaptation is also in the works.

The full review article is here.

White Van Man - the comedy sitcom penned by stand up comedian Adrian Poynton - was nominated in two categories in this years British Comedy Guide Awards 2011.

The sitcom, which stars Will Mellor as Ollie, Joel Fry as Darren and Georgia as Emma, was nominated in both the Best New TV Sitcom 2011 and the Comedy of the Year 2011 categories. Voting closed at midnight on Friday 20th January 2012 and the winners were announced on Monday 23rd January 2012.

Sadly, White Van Man didn't win in either category this time around. Fingers crossed for next year!

• More about White Van Man
• The White Van Man Galleries

The principal cast for White Van Man are:

Main Cast:

• Ollie Curry  ...  Will Mellor
• Tony Curry  ...  Clive Mantle
• Darren  ...  Joel Fry
• Emma Keeley  ...  Georgia Moffett
• Liz  ...  Naomi Bentley
• Uncle Phil ... Ram John Holder
• Ricky ... Blake Harrison

Main Crew:

• Director  ...  James Strong (1 episode)
• Director ... Iain B. MacDonald (5 episodes)
• Producer  ...  Rohan Acharya
• Producer ... Saurabh Kakkar
• Writer  ...  Adrian Poynton

White Van Man Series 2 - not yet aired - is already available for pre-order from most online DVD and record stores.

With a release date of 26th March 2012, this indicates that the series will be aired (and will finish airing) by this date.

At the moment, the DVD (with no cover picture as yet) is retailing at £11.99 and is available in our Shop for pre-order.

The Messenger reports that the White Van Man team have been spotted filming at a shoe repair shop in Broadheath. The film crew took over the shop on Friday 7th October 2011 and renamed the shop "Kenny Kobblers Key Kutters" for the day.

Jessica Bell for the Messenger reports:

White Van Man film crews in Altrincham

Broadheath was transformed into a film set last week for a BBC Three comedy series.

Actors Will Mellor and Naomi Bentley took over Shoe Repairs on Woodfield Road for the day on Friday October 7, to film the second series of the hit comedy White Van Man.

They were joined by actor Mark Benton (Early Doors and Waterloo Road), who is making a guest appearance in one of the episodes and looked comical in a Fez, moustache and bow tie.

Renamed Kenny Kobblers Key Kutters for the day, little was changed inside the shoe repair shop.

A spokesperson for ITV Productions said the second series would continue to follow hapless handyman Ollie’s antics as he runs his father Tony’s business (played by Clive Mantle).

The programme, which has been filmed all over Greater Manchester also stars Ollie’s sidekick Joel Fry and Georgia Moffett.

Mark is not the only star making a cameo appearance, the Inbetweeners Blake Harrison (Neil Sutherland in the E4 comedy) is set to appear in several episodes.

The second series of White Van Man is expected to be broadcast in early 2012.

The original article is here

The Stockport Citizen reports that filming for White Van Man - the comedy starring Will Mellor and Georgia is filming in and around Cheadle.

The piece is primarily about Will Mellor (who hails from Stockport) and doesn't mention Georgia, however the article mentions eight other cast members, of which Georgia should be one.

The original article was written by Louise Kelly and was published on 26th July 2010.

The newspaper reports:

A BBC comedy drama was filmed at a betting shop in Cheadle. The series called ‘White Van Man’ stars Will Mellor, who is from Stockport and has appeared in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and Hollyoaks.

Filming started at 7am on Monday morning at Best Bet Bookmakers at Old Rectory Gardens parallel to Wilmslow Road, Cheadle and lasted all day. Lorries and vans carrying filming equipment and props took over the Old Rectory Gardens, causing passersby to stop and ask what was happening. The series is being produced by ITV Studios but will be shown on BBC 3 in January 2011.

The production team, lead by producer Rohan Acharya, have been using suburban locations throughout the Stockport and Manchester area to create a fictional village for the show. Will said: “I’m from Stockport so it’s nice to be back home and filming up north. I can get my family out to have a look at what’s going on so it’s nice. I’ve been looking forward to this show since last year when it was commissioned.”

Eight cast members and 10 background artists were at the betting shop location in Cheadle ready to start filming. The crew have been filming for three weeks and have got another three weeks left.

You can read the full article here.