First look image released as James Norton joins guest cast for third series of the BBC Three Comedy series Jerk starring BAFTA nominated Tim Renkow
“BBC Three’s critically acclaimed comedy series Jerk, produced by Roughcut TV and Primal Media, returns this Spring for a third series following the life of Tim, a man who knows that having cerebral palsy means that he can get away with almost anything.
Tim Renkow says: “It was great to be back with the old crew and some new faces, they were all unbelievably excellent and so much fun to work with”
The series will also star James Norton (Happy Valley, Rogue Agent, Little Women) and Lee Ridley (Christmas Comedy Club With Lost Voice Guy, The Royal Variety Performance, Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions), plus Sally Phillips (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) also joins the cast alongside Lydia Fleming (In from the Cold) and Gary Beadle (Andor).
Jerk was co-created, co-written by and stars BAFTA nominated Tim Renkow (Funny Festival Live, Bobby and Harriet Get Married) as Tim, appearing alongside a raft of comedy talent. Returning to star with Tim in series three is the Academy Award and Emmy-nominated actress Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos, Goodfellas), Sharon Rooney (Dumbo, My Mad Fat Diary) and Rob Madin (Man Like Mobeen, Carters Get Rich). Saida Ahmed (Brassic, Unprecedented: Real Time Theatre From a State of Isolation) also joins the cast with musical artist, Mysie, making her acting debut.
Co-written by Renkow and Shaun Pye (There She Goes, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order), series 3 sees Tim further bulldoze the sensitivities of modern life with a lead role in a movie, a stint as a drug mule, a job advising government on disability and generally attacking anything that takes itself too seriously. Series 3 also charts a touching love story as Tim falls for a disability activist with an agenda. Is that the sound of wedding bells, as Tim finally meets his match…
Critical reception for series two of Jerk
Daily Telegraph ★ ★ ★ ★
“Tim Renkow’s sitcom about a disabled character is bags of fun and can get away with things that others might not dare attempt.”
The i ★ ★ ★ ★
“It’s hard not to admire Tim Renkow’s commitment to being as dark as possible as Tim, a man with cerebral palsy who also happens to be a cynical narcissist.”
The Guardian ★ ★ ★ ★
“Tim Renkow is back as a sociopathic puppeteer with cerebral palsy – who now identifies as able-bodied – in this superbly awkward comedy about society’s discomfort with disability.”
Chortle ★ ★ ★ ★
Tim Renkow’s Jerk is a clear example that anything’s up for mockery, just as long as it’s done with clear, uncruel intention.
All previous episodes of Jerk are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer
Award Nominations
Jerk won the Representation of Disability Award at the Mipcom Diversify TV Excellence Awards in 2020 and has been nominated for the following awards:
- Breakthrough Act nomination – RTS Awards 2020
- Comedy-Drama in Sitcom – Rose D’Or 2021
- Best Multichannel Programme Category – Broadcast Awards 2021
- Best Actor nomination for Tim Renkow – BAFTA Awards 2022
- Best Comedy Programme nomination – Broadcast Digital Awards 2022
- Best Short Fiction Programme – Rockie Awards 2022
Jerk returns to BBC Three this Spring, with exact broadcast details set to be announced in due course.
Jerk is a co-production between Roughcut TV and Primal Media for BBC Three and iPlayer. It is co-created by Stu Richards, produced by Khaya Castagnoli and directed by Tom McKay. The executive producers are Tim Renkow, Alex Smith and Ash Atalla for Roughcut TV and Mat Steiner for Primal Media. The commissioning editor for the BBC is Seb Barwell.”
