Show of the week: Plebs

Plebs is a comedy series about three young suburban guys facing the same trials and tribulations as any young men, meeting girls, climbing the social ladder and getting a career in place. The twist is the show is set in Ancient Rome.

It debuted on ITV2 in the UK in March 2013, with over a million viewers from the start, a creditable number for the channel. The second series started in September 2014, again winning over a million.

MTG-owned DRG recently picked up the rights to the British comedy, beating out competition from other distributors, and NATPE will mark its first full launch at an international market.

The company has successfully sold various UK comedies in recent years, including The Inbetweeners and, more recently, Mackenzie Crook BBC Four series Detectorists.

What will set Plebs apart in a crowded market, says Patrick Roberts, senior VP, international sales at DRG, is the quality of the writing and the production values.

“It’s hysterically funny and brilliantly produced on a feature film set [in Bulgaria], and that is why it will break out – it looks brighter and classier than other shows.”

Despite the youthful cast, Roberts says it pulls in a wider audience than just teens and youngsters, with older viewers watching to reminisce about their younger days.

THE SHOW: Plebs
THE PRODUCER: Rise Films
THE DISTRIBUTOR: DRG
THE CONCEPT: Comedy series about three young guys living together… set in Ancient Rome