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Star-studded new comedy Hang Ups follows the comically chaotic life of a therapist trying to work from home and treat his patients over the internet

British comedy has never looked quite like new series Hang Ups. Much of the action takes place on computer screens and features actors who wouldn’t look out of place in a serious costume drama. The stellar cast includes Richard E Grant, David Tennant, Celia Imrie, Charles Dance, Sarah Hadland and Katherine Parkinson.

It tells the story of therapist Richard Pitt, who is trying to relaunch his career online after the disastrous collapse of his group therapy practice. We join Richard on the first day of his new venture, where working from home is made utterly chaotic by his teenage children, high-flying wife, unconventional parents, eccentric therapist, useless best friend and wacky clients. They include a nymphomaniac politician’s wife, played by Miranda’s Sarah Hadland; former Doctor Who star David Tennant’s anxious cloakroom attendant; a lottery winner who says his multi-million-pound prize has brought him only pain; and a woman still struggling to get over Princess Diana’s death.

Hang Ups, which contains strong language, has a great pedigree: it’s based on Emmy Award- nominated series Web Therapy, which was created by and starred Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe in Friends. The show has been co-adapted by Episodes comedy actor Stephen Mangan, who also plays Richard Pitt, but the stars of the show are the supporting cast, many of whom ad-libbed their lines.

Katherine Parkinson plays Richard’s wife Karen, a company executive who has little patience with her husband as he struggles in his new role. ‘They have a good relationship but never communicate,’ she says. ‘They talk through Face-Time and have a hectic life – everything gets in the way of communication. It’s a proper modern marriage.’

She says the idea of ad-libbing was a big attraction. ‘My character had various plot points that I had to ad-lib around. Guest stars like Richard E Grant, who plays Richard’s own therapist, were liter- ally in a room alone talking down a webcam and they had almost total freedom. I think a lot of actors were drawn to that.’

Charles Dance and Celia Imrie take the roles of Richard’s divorced parents, Jeremy and alcoholic Maggie. She’s fallen off the wagon and it’s left to Richard to try to sort her out. His daughter Issy is in relationships with a woman, her male university lecturer, and a young male lover on the side, while

LEONARD CONRAD (Richard E Grant) The foul-mouthed therapist who’s treating Richard, he’s convinced every problem comes down to sex. MAGGIE PITT (Celia Imrie) Richard’s alcoholic mother has fallen off the wagon and ends up moving in with Richard and his wife Karen.

teenage son Ricky struggles to get any attention from his mum and dad.

Filming took place in one house in London. The ground floor was Richard’s home and on the floors above were sets representing the homes or offices of his friends, family and clients. We see Richard interacting with his wife and children and then having conversations on the computer with his clients and other characters. Stephen Mangan says the online improvised chats were great fun.

‘The first Sarah Hadland session we did, the first take was 25 minutes long! We just let her talk and talk and talk. I think there’s something inherently fascinating about watching people actually talk to each other.’ Nicole Lampert Hang Ups starts on Wednesday at 10pm on Channel 4.

KAREN MULLER and RICHARD PITT (Katherine Parkinson and Stephen Mangan) Psychologist Richard and his wife, a pharmaceutical company executive, find their lives in chaos when he launches an online therapy service from home.