Jensen and Bonnar, who have both starred in the long-running BBC Scotland crime series Shetland, will be playing unlikely travelling companions Cat and Gerry in the new show Rambling.
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The new sitcom will see Jensen and Bonnar play unlikely travelling companions Cat and Gerry.
Commissioned from The Comedy Unit by BBC Scotland and BBC Comedy, Rambling has been written by Iain Connell, co-creator of the BBC Scotland comedy shows Burnistoun and The Scotts, and Sharon Young, one of Connell’s co-stars in The Scotts.
Ashley Jensen and Mark Bonnar will be starring in the new BBC Scotland sitcom Rambling. (Image: Jamie Simpson)
The new show is being billed by BBC Scotland as a “feel-good Scottish sitcom all about putting your best foot forward”.
The official synopsis for Rambling states: “You’d never put Gerry and Cat together.
“He’s order, she’s chaos. Gerry plans every step. Cat gets lost on the way to the car park. Gerry’s on a mission to fulfil a promise to his recently deceased brother.
“Cat’s flying solo having been thrown out a walking group that was supposed to be a fresh start for her.
“The more they walk and talk, they discover they’re travelling on common ground. Rambling is a feel-good Scottish sitcom all about putting your best foot forward.”
Jensen, who was nominated for an Emmy for a breakthrough comedy role in Extras, and Bonnar, who has starred in the drama series Guilt, Dept Q and Line of Duty, appeared together in all four series of Catastrophe.
Rambling, which is expected to air early next year, is being described as a “one-off special” by the BBC.
Jensen said: “Sharon and Iain’s script is about nothing and everything. It’s smart, honest, poignant, moving and funny. It’s about loss, loneliness, and our need for connection.
“I started my career with the BBC Comedy Unit a long time ago, so I am delighted to return and be part of Rambling and to be reunited with the talented Mark Bonnar, along with a resilient and incredibly skilled crew, with whom we will be braving the Scottish elements to bring this beautiful special to life.”
Bonnar said: “I’m so thrilled to be doing this beautifully written, very funny show by Iain and Sharon.
“I’ve never played someone quite like Gerry before and I can’t wait to get cracking.
“On top of that, to be reunited with the wonderful Ashley Jensen, it doesn’t get any better.”
Gavin Smith, commissioning editor at BBC Scotland: “We’re delighted to be bringing Iain and Sharon’s hilarious outdoorsy sitcom to the screens in this one-off special.
“It is packed with brilliant banter and who better to be rambling on while rambling along than the wonderful Ashley Jensen and Mark Bonnar.”
BBC Comedy commissioning editor Navi Lamba said: “Some of the best comedies come from forcing unlikely people together and Rambling does exactly that.
“Iain and Sharon have created a deeply relatable sitcom and I can’t wait for people to fall for Cat and Gerry.”