{"id":421323,"date":"2026-02-12T06:50:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T06:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/421323\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T06:50:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T06:50:11","slug":"brilliantly-distinctive-channel-4-rom-com-gets-first-look-as-new-cast-are-added","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/421323\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cBrilliantly distinctive\u201d Channel 4 rom-com gets first look as new cast are added"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"3\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Channel 4 has announced new cast members joining the upcoming romcom Break Clause as TV fans get a first-look sneak peek at the sitcom. The six-part comedy series centres around an awkward split. It stars How to Have Sex&#8217;s Samuel Bottomley as Ben as one half of the break-up couple, whilst Lara Ricote will take on the role of his ex-other half Lil. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"9\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Joining the pair will be Gentleman Jack&#8217;s Lucy Black as Deb and Cold Feet star John Thomas as Alan. Jack James, most recently known for playing William Dunlop in the ITV drama I Fought the Law, will take on the role of Jordan. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"13\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Penned by Jess Bray (The Outlaws), the series, which has been produced by BBC Studios Comedy and commissioned for Channel 4, follows Ben and Lil who must navigate their tumultuous break-up whilst still living together.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"18\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">&#8220;Their relationship&#8217;s over. Their tenancy isn&#8217;t. Break Clause follows Ben and Lil as they navigate their breakup whilst stuck in the same flat,&#8221; the synopsis reads. &#8220;Moving on from your first love is hard enough. Moving out is even harder\u2026&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"22\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Also added to the cast are Lucas Jones (Get Millie Black) as Sean, Hammed Animashaun (Black Ops) as Paul, Assa Kanout\u00e9 (Boarders) as Kira, Catherine Cohen (Sentimental Value) as Jos, Charly Clive (Rooster) as Frances, Michael Work\u00e9y\u00e8 (The Moment) as Kas, Jessica Knappett (Avoidance) as the Vicar, Nathan Foad (Our Flag Means Death) as Owen, Jack Shep (SNL UK) as Liam and Tamika Bennett as Nic.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"charley clive, lara ricote, john thomson, nathan foad, samuel bottomley, lucy black, jack shep, tamika bennett, break clause break clause\" title=\"Charley Clive, Lara Ricote, John Thomson, Nathan Foad, Samuel Bottomley, Lucy Black, Jack Shep, Tamika Bennett, Break Clause Break Clause \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/charly-clive-lara-ricote-john-thomson-nathan-foad-samuel-bottomley-lucy-black-jack-shep-tamika-benne.jpeg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Channel 4<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"samuel bottomley, lara ricote, break clause\" title=\"Samuel Bottomley, Lara Ricote, Break Clause \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"5472\" height=\"3648\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/samuel-bottomley-lara-ricote-break-clause-698cabe0bad9c.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Channel 4<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"28\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tech\/best-tech-deals\/g35899960\/best-streaming-services\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tech\/best-tech-deals\/g35899960\/best-streaming-services\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Best streaming services\" data-node-id=\"28.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Best streaming services<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"32\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Series creator Bray <a href=\"https:\/\/www.channel4.com\/press\/news\/channel-4-commissions-new-comedy-series-break-clause\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.channel4.com\/press\/news\/channel-4-commissions-new-comedy-series-break-clause\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"released a statement\" data-node-id=\"32.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">released a statement<\/a> about the comedy, sharing: &#8220;As a hopeless romantic who&#8217;s been daydreaming about this show for years, I&#8217;m so thrilled and grateful Channel 4 and ZDFneo are trusting me to tell more of Ben and Lil&#8217;s story.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"36\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The synopsis continued: &#8220;We&#8217;ve somehow assembled The Avengers of a creative team (never seen it) so here&#8217;s hoping we can make something lovely and have a nice time doing it!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"catherine cohen, break clause\" title=\"Catherine Cohen, Break Clause \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4750\" height=\"3084\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/catherine-cohen-brreak-clause-698cabe0b8c63.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Channel 4<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"assa kanoute, jack james ryan, tamika bennett, jack shep, lara ricote, samuel bottomley, break clause break clause\" title=\"Assa Kanoute, Jack James Ryan, Tamika Bennett, Jack Shep, Lara Ricote, Samuel Bottomley, Break Clause Break Clause \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"5341\" height=\"2824\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/assa-kanoute-jack-james-ryan-tamika-bennett-jack-shep-lara-ricote-samuel-bottomley-break-clause-698c.jpeg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Channel 4<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"42\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a70269652\/what-to-watch-this-week-9-february-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a70269652\/what-to-watch-this-week-9-february-2026\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"&#039;Dark and hilarious&#039; Belfast-set comedy series: 5 shows to watch on BBC, Netflix and more this week\" data-node-id=\"42.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">&#8216;Dark and hilarious&#8217; Belfast-set comedy series: 5 shows to watch on BBC, Netflix and more this week<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"46\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Head of Comedy at Channel 4 Charlie Perkins added: &#8220;There was a real alchemy to the creative components of this Comedy Blap, with huge rising stars both on and off screen. Nothing works better than a rom com in the era of people inhaling a series on streaming and this show sits brilliantly distinctively on our Channel 4 Comedy slate. We&#8217;re thrilled.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"50\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Break Clause will air on Channel 4.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"55\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The new edition of Living Legends, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Taylor Swift, is here! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/livilgtaylorswift\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/livilgtaylorswift\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Buy Taylor in newsagents or online\" data-node-id=\"55.3\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Buy Taylor in newsagents or online<\/a>, priced at just \u00a38.99.<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770879011_385_c9c3b959-10f7-495c-82de-df3d8540e562_1646928593.PNG\" alt=\"Headshot of Janet A Leigh\" title=\"Headshot of Janet A Leigh\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"css-o0wq4v ev8dhu53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. \u00a0For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodhousekeeping.com\/uk\/author\/531576\/janet-a-leigh\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Good Housekeeping institute<\/a> eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. \u00a0She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Digital Spy<\/a> as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book <a href=\"https:\/\/pegasuspublishers.com\/books\/janet-a-leigh\/gothic-angel\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gothic Angel<\/a>. <br \/>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Channel 4 has announced new cast members joining the upcoming romcom Break Clause as TV fans get a&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":421324,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[147950,379,155192,381,96,1156,155191,391,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-421323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-collection-latest-news","tag-content-type-news","tag-contentid-f1d4d1c1-68db-4158-a6ba-6e689859d914","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-entertainment","tag-locale-gb","tag-shorttitle-brilliantly-distinctive-british-comedy-adds-new-cast","tag-tv","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=421323"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421323\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/421324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=421323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=421323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=421323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}