PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE HEX FACTOR
Daisy May Cooper stars in new BBC2 comedy The Witchfinder. finds out more
The term ‘witch hunt’ gets thrown around a lot these days, but new sitcom The Witchfinder takes us back to a time when it was meant literally.
It’s set in the 17th century, when England was gripped by civil war, famine and plague – and people were looking for someone to blame.
Throw Puritanical Christianity and some older, but still deep-seated superstitions into the mix, and the conditions are perfect for self-proclaimed witchfinders, who can become heroes by investigating accusations and extracting confessions.
Yet despite all that, Gideon Bannister (Tim Key) has been struggling to find any witches.
His search for the case that will make his name takes him to an East Anglian village, but the best he can come up with as uncouth local woman accused of killing a pig.
Gideon decides to make the most of the apparently trivial case, and finds himself presented with an opportunity that will make his fortune.
Sadly, it also means setting off on a road trip with accused witch Thomasine Gooch (Daisy May Cooper) – and there aren’t even any roads.
Daisy May is probably best known for starring, co-writing and co-creating the awardwinning This Country with her brother Charlie, but she’s also proved to be a hilarious Taskmaster contestant and has recently been a team captain on the relaunched Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
Daisy May jokes: “I’ve always wanted to be a witch, my mother says I’ve got the nose and chin hair for it.
“I dabbled a bit in witchcraft when I was in my teens and ended up accidentally inviting an incubus into my house.”
It’s slightly familiar territory for Tim – he may not have vast experience when it comes to playing 17th-century witchfinders, but the sitcom has reunited him with writerdirectors Neil and Rob Gibbons and the three of them all have extensive experience of East Anglia-based comedies.
That’s because they previously worked together on Alan Partridge-related projects, including Mid
Morning Matters, This Time, and big-screen outing Alpha Papa.
Tim says: “I’m delighted to be working with the mercurially talented Gibbons brothers again, particularly on something set in 17th-century
England – which they seem to have a fairly loose grasp of – and am excited to do a road trip but on horses (I can’t ride a horse).
“I love the idea of Daisy May Cooper being a witch anyway, so the fact that I’m playing her antagonist is the icing on the cake.”
In case the leads are not enough to make you fall under The Witchfinder’s spell, we’re also promised supporting and guest appearances from some more comedy ringers.
As well as Jessica Hynes (Spaced) and Daniel Rigby (Flowers) in this episode, keep your eyes peeled for Reece Shearsmith (Inside No. 9), Julian Barratt (The Mighty Boosh), Ricky Tomlinson (The Royle Family), Rosie Cavaliero (Worzel Gummidge), Cariad Lloyd (Murder in Successville) and Allan Mustafa (People Just Do Nothing).
The Witchfinder is on BBC2 at 10pm on Tuesday nights
I’ve always wanted to be a witch, my mother says I’ve got the nose and chin hair for it.