Channel 4 ditches comedy with big-name cast after just one series after it fails to impress viewers
IT was the new comedy horror series that failed to raise enough laughs with viewers last year, despite its big-name cast.
Now I can reveal Channel 4 show Generation Z will NOT return for a second season.
The first run followed townsfolk trying to survive after a chemical leak turned their local care home’s elderly residents into flesh-eating zombies.
The cast included Sue Johnston and Anita Dobson as members of the zombie community, while Robert Lindsay and Johnny Vegas featured as terrified locals.
A band of young heroes trying to save their fictional town of Dambury from a bloody demise were played by Jay Lycurgo, Viola Prettejohn, Lewis Gribben and Buket Komur.
After six episodes of them battling against the undead, the action ended in a cliffhanger when actress Sue’s character Cecily was reborn into a young woman’s body.
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‘Walking Dead spin-off’
But the show received mixed reviews from viewers, perhaps pushing the broadcaster into making the decision to call time.
An insider told me: “It had seemed with Cecily being reborn, there was more to come in this series. The fate of a lot of the other characters in the Dambury was also left unclear. But Channel 4 decided to put this one on the shelf, and there are no plans to bring it back.
“That’s certain to be disappointing news for those who did like it — many likening it to a bizarre spin-off of hugely popular American zombie drama The Walking Dead.
“But sadly it didn’t win everyone over and it’s likely that was behind the decision to rest it.”
Channel 4 added: “We’re very proud of Generation Z and thank [writer] Ben Wheatley, [producers] The Forge and the wonderful cast and crew involved in the show’s success. We look forward to working together on future Channel 4 projects.”
CALL OF DUTY FOR DAN’S KID
DANNY DYER’s son Arty could have an easy path into showbiz – but after making his acting debut, it seems he prefers his video games.
Young Arty, 11, plays Danny’s son in new film Marching Powder, about a middle-aged football hooligan.
Rivals star Danny told FM104: “They couldn’t find any parents of a child who would allow them to swear, so they said, ‘Do you think Arty would be up for it?’ and he said, ‘I’ll do it’.
“He got £1,300 for it.”
And the lad promptly blew the cash on top games Call of Duty and Fortnite, Danny said.
“He’s got no interest in being an actor,” he added.
“My agent phoned me up afterwards and said, ‘Listen, for Arty, they’re casting a new TV version of Harry Potter, does he want to go for it?’
“So I asked him, and he said ‘Nah’.”
CHATEAU ON TO A WINNER
CHANNEL 4’s daytime hit Chateau DIY looks set to become even more popular – as a new spin-off competition is offering winners their very own French castle.
The main series, which launched in 2018, charts the highs and lows of Brits who purchase and renovate crumbling French properties.
In new show Chateau DIY: Win The Dream, hopefuls will showcase their design and business skills over three weeks.
Some pairs will then be chosen for the finals week – where they can win a chateau worth up to £250,000.
Channel 4’s Jayne Stanger says: “It will offer the perfect blend of glorious escapism and real-life twists and turns that our viewers love.”
To apply, go to shortaudition.net.
NATALIE: ‘SONIA IS MINE’
SHE has only just left EastEnders but that doesn’t mean Natalie Cassidy has ruled out coming back.
The Sonia Fowler actress is already planning her return to Albert Square, which she hopes will take place in a decade’s time, for the next big anniversary show.
And the much-loved star, who quit the show after three decades, issued a warning to show bosses in case they think of replacing her with a new actress in the meantime.
She said: “If they recast Sonia then I’m going up to Borehamwood [where the show is filmed] with a sledge hammer. I feel very protective about Sonia, she could die off-screen, though.
“We could be watching it one night and you know the old phone call, Cathy runs in saying: ‘Ian, I’ve just had a message, Sonia’s dead.. That could easily happen.
“But I do hope, like you could say for the 50th anniversary, I could pop back.”
EastEnders continues tonight on BBC One.
MART’S TV SEX A NO FOR MUM
MARTIN COMPSTON was left blushing after failing to tell his mum about his sex scene in new Prime Video thriller Fear.
The opening episode sees him get it on with screen wife Anjli Mohindra, as the pair play a couple who have moved with kids from London to Glasgow, only for a neighbour’s remark to suggest trouble afoot.
But the real-life worry for Martin was his mum.
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He told Chris Moyles on Radio X: “You’re sitting between your mum and dad, and you’re like, ‘Ah, this is amazing.’ I forgot what was coming. You’re having to turn to your mum and go, ‘Shut your eyes for the next five minutes’. She’s like, ‘Why?’.
And I was like, ‘Just shut your eyes. I can’t explain it’.”