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A single-mother on the make, Jackie has her heart set on becoming a dark-web super-seller, while dowdy daughter Helen dreams of living the glamorous life she’s read about in the Lidl catalogue. But no matter how hard they try, their plans are always falling flat.
about the show
studio sitcom about a mismatched mother and daughter trapped together in a junk-filled flat
This female-led sitcom began life as a short script entered into the comedy writing competition Sitcom Trials. It was performed at the Midlands Art Centre in the first round of the competition, and although it didn't win, it was warmly received by the audience.
A few years later, it got a second chance when a group of writers began a script-reading round-table. Among the group was producer and director Karl Rooney, who saw its potential and snapped it up.
Showcase a commission-ready sitcom.
​Highlight a female-led cast.
​Prove that studio sitcoms don't need a massive budget.
The third point is particularly important. Studio sitcoms are expensive to produce, making them unpopular with commissioners, but this project proved that costs can be cut by over two-thirds.
Karl produced Falling Flat for three reasons
Instead of a huge studio with loads of crew, we filmed in a small studio with a streamlined crew and set. It might be a studio sitcom, but there was no audience present for the taping. This reduced costs and released the pressure of production time constraints.
How did we produce a broadcast-ready studio sitcom on a shoestring?
You might think that filming without an audience would necessitate the introduction of canned laughter, but that's not how we roll. After the episode had been edited, a screening was arranged at the Riverside Studios in London. Before the audience arrived, the theatre was rigged with mics to capture a genuine reaction to the show.
Every laugh you hear in the episode was earned the hard way. No cheating!
