BBC Begins Filming The Reluctant Vampire With Lenny Rush Leading a Star-Studded Cast

Filming has officially started at the atmospheric Woodchester Park Mansion for the BBC’s upcoming supernatural comedy The Reluctant Vampire, a fresh adaptation of the books by beloved British comedy icon Eric Morecambe. The mansion’s eerie and dramatic setting fits perfectly with the show’s timeless English village backdrop, where everything appears picturesque except for the vampires who roam from the castle on the hill at night.

The BBC is positioning the series as a fun, modern take on Morecambe’s original stories, shaped into a six-episode comedy by writers Rob Gibbons and Neil Gibbons, known for their work on Alan Partridge. The show is produced by Boffola Pictures for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with Shane Allen executive-producing, Ali Marlow serving as series producer, and Gary Morecambe acting as script consultant to preserve the spirit of his father’s work.

At the center of the series is Val, played by BAFTA winner Lenny Rush, who discovers he is not actually a vampire after catching a glimpse of his reflection. Rush expressed enthusiasm for the role, calling it an honor to bring to life a character created by the legendary Eric Morecambe and praising the writers for packing the script with so many jokes and brilliant ideas.

By day, Val explores his newly discovered human side with the help of village girl Gertie, played by Ellie May Sheridan, forming a secret friendship that helps him navigate the human world. However, Val must hide this truth from the villagers and especially from his vampire family, who are deeply committed to ancient traditions and expect him to follow in their footsteps.

The vampire household includes Val’s strict father Victor, portrayed by Tom Davis, who insists on upholding the family legacy, and his suspicious brother Vernon, played by Gabriel Nagy. His mother Valeeta, portrayed by Sian Clifford, is the only one who knows Val’s real identity and supports him quietly while helping maintain the façade at home.

The cast is stacked with well-known comedic talent, including Charlie Cooper, Joe Wilkinson—recently seen in Celebrity Traitors—Billy Bailey, and stand-up comedian Ross Noble. These performers bring a wide range of comedic styles, making the project one of the BBC’s most promising comedy ensembles in recent years.

According to Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy at the BBC, The Reluctant Vampire represents exactly the kind of distinctive and character-driven comedy the BBC wants to champion. Petrie praised the adaptation for its blend of humor and emotional depth and expressed confidence that Lenny Rush’s performance will make the series one of the standout comedies of the year.

The BBC has confirmed that the series will consist of six 30-minute episodes slated for release in 2026 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Filming began in early November 2025, adding momentum to what already appears to be a high-profile production with strong audience appeal.

You can read more about the series development on the official BBC media page here.