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Kathy Burke writes and stars in new Sky Atlantic series

Friday 20 January, 2012

By Anthony Hill

Walking and Talking tells the story of Burke’s teenage years.

Award-winning British comedian Kathy Burke has written her first ever TV series.

Walking and Talking, a brand new comedy for Sky Atlantic HD, is based on her teenage years, when she dreamed of being an actress while skipping school in a working-class part of London.

The four-part series, written entirely by Burke herself, follows the success of her film Little Cracker, which aired on Sky 1 HD over Christmas 2010, telling the story of how a chance meeting with punk band The Clash changed her life forever.

Kathy Burke, who won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 for her role in gritty drama Nil by Mouth, commented: “I wanted to write a semi-autobiographical piece that was uplifting and heart-warming. Walking and Talking is my love letter to books, 70s television, music and friendship.”

Reprising their roles as young Kathy and her best friend Mary are Doctors actress Ami Metcalf and Aimee-Ffion Edwards, from Skins, Jerusalem and Luther. Burke will also appear in each episode as the character Angry Nun.

Lucy Lumsden, head of comedy at Sky, said: “We loved Kathy's Little Cracker so much we demanded more. We are immensely proud to have this exquisite series for Sky Atlantic HD.”

Walking and Talking, which is scheduled for broadcast in summer 2012, was made by Tiger Aspect and directed by Tim Kirkby, whose credits include stand-up sketch show Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle and science parody Look Around You.

Sky Atlantic is free to all Sky TV customers, and is also available in high definition when choosing the HD Pack. Other popular shows include The Borgias, Boardwalk Empire and Mad Men.