Writers is a British comedy-drama web and television series produced and created by Adam T Cottle, from characters created by himself, Leah Sperring and David Thompson
The show originally premiered on YouTube, before later airing on the Made Television network. It tells the story of Jess Spencer (Sperring) and Emmett Shelby (Thompson), two struggling writers who, after meeting through coincidence, are reunited a year later through Emmett's successful sister and her extended circle of friends.
The first season premiered on YouTube on 24 January 2015 and ran until 14 March, consisting of six episodes. The series was later picked up by Made Television, with the first season debuting on 28 July. On 18 March 2015 the series was renewed for a second season of seven episodes, which premiered on YouTube on 6 February 2016. On 18 March 2016 the series was renewed for a third season, which was confirmed to be the last. However, this renewal was later reversed when series creator announced that the series would instead conclude in a one-off, feature length finale.
Emmett Shelby is a struggling young writer who, during a bout of writer's block, encounters fellow writer Jess Spencer who is suffering from the same condition. The two spend a day together, subsequently inspiring Emmett to continue writing. A year later, Emmett's successful twin sister Daisy is promoting her latest children's book when she runs into Jess, who happens to be an old school friend of hers. Daisy invites Jess to move in with her, setting the events of the series in motion.
Daisy shares her home with two others - her boyfriend Barney Fields, and flamboyant landlord Hugh Darvill. Barney is an illustrator, providing the artwork to Daisy's bestselling children's novels. Hugh, on the other hand, is a failed erotic novelist, specialising in gay erotica aimed at children. Emmett still lives with his wealthy, controlling parents - whose grasp Daisy was able to escape some years prior - but ends up moving in with the others when they throw him out in the second episode of season one. Outside of the central group is Jenny Sinclair, Daisy's eccentric agent who bares an intense unrequited attraction towards Emmett. In the second season, Parker James III is introduced as an old friend of Daisy and Emmett's, and a new romantic interest for Jenny. Although the group are different, they quickly become close friends, and something akin to a family.
The central arc of the series revolves around the budding romantic relationship between Jess and Emmett, which is hindered both by the arrival of Emmett's irritating girlfriend Clarice and Emmett's own cluelessness to his feelings. After sleeping together in the season one finale, Jess and Emmett finally begin a relationship together.
The series began life as a short film, starring David Thompson and Leah Sperring, which was released on the CCE Entertainment YouTube channel in 2014. Due to the positive reaction to the short, it was quickly announced that it would be expanded into a full series for a 2015 premiere date. Originally, the series was envisioned as a standard web-series, with six episodes each running at 15 minutes in length; however, as the scripts developed, the episodes reached the standard length for broadcast television. The first season premiered on 24 January 2015.
When writing the series, creator Adam T Cottle was initially inspired by classic sitcoms such as Friends and How I Met Your Mother, although as the scripts developed they quickly moved away from these original inspirations into new territory. Another core inspiration was the music of indie-band Of Monsters and Men.
In July 2015 it was announced that Writers would make its television debut on the Made Television channel. The series would begin with an hour-long premiere episode, made up of the original short film and the first episode of season one. The series debuted on Made in Bristol on 28 July 2015 and concluded on 25 August.
On 18 March Writers was renewed for a second season of seven episodes to premiere in 2016. The second season premiered on 6 February 2016. On 18 March 2016 the series was renewed for a third and final season. Due to cast scheduling conflicts, no premiere date for the third season was given. Along with the announcement of the third season, it was confirmed that Writers would return for a one-off Christmas special, which would see the departure of Grace Martinson from the series.
Main Cast
Leah Sperring as Jess Spencer, an aimless and directionless young writer struggling to find her way in the world. Jess is a wannabe author, who continues to struggle with writer's block despite her best efforts. She also bears a self-centred streak, something which is often picked upon by Daisy. Prior to the events of the series, Jess was a "wild-child", known for her dyed hair, goth make-up and promiscuity. In the season two episode Breakfast at Daisy's, she is shown to be deeply regretful of these aspect of her past. In the same episode, it is revealed that Jess once had a sexual experience with Daisy. Leah Sperring describes Jess as "very naive. She doesn't really understand the adult world, like she thinks she's a lot more grown-up than she actually is." Describing Jess' relationship with Emmett, she added "it is like a will-they-won't-they-story... but it seems like they're both really emotionally immature."
David Thompson as Emmett Shelby, a budding young fantasy writer living off his parents' fortune as he struggles with continuing bouts of writer's block. Like Jess, Emmett is a wannabe writer - unlike Jess, however, Emmett has successfully written a short story, which he aspires to adapt into a novel. At the outset of the series, Emmett still lives with his wealthy parents. However, due to Daisy's success at making it on her own, Emmett's father decides to throw him out of the house along with his pet dog, Ripley. Emmett quickly worms his way into the main household, and proceeds to annoy everyone else for weeks until they stage an intervention. Emmett is known for displaying selfish and rude character traits, as shown in his handling of the knowledge of Jess' past. He is also quite dim, unable to see Jess' obvious feelings for him throughout most of the first season, even though it is obvious to all those around him, including his then-girlfriend Clarice.
Isabella Cosh as Daisy Shelby, a successful and popular children's author who turned down her wealthy family's inheritance in favour of making something for herself. Daisy is largely responsible for bringing the central characters together, and for setting the series' events in motion by inviting Jess to move in. She acts as a maternal figure to the others, and is the most successful of the group, with three published novels under her belt. However, she has also been shown to be quite fragile when things go wrong, such as when a spelling error turns the title of her third novel, "George and the Smelly Old Shirt", into inappropriate language. Daisy is very dependent on her live-in Barney, and their relationship provides much of the emotional backbone to the series. Although not particularly close with her twin brother, Daisy is shown to be very protective of Emmett, such as in the season one episode A Tale of Two Scarves, where she defends him from an attack by Clarice. Isabella Cosh has described Daisy as "the mother hen of the group... she's been brought up quite well, which shows through her maturity and her understanding of life". Talking of Daisy's relationship with Barney, she added "they're closer than close, which shows through in the arguments they have sometimes."
Jack Stringer as Barney Fields, an illustrator with dreams of comic book stardom. Barney is portrayed as the most youthful member of the group, displaying typical geeky traits, such as an adoration of cult films and television. In comparison to Jess, Emmett and Daisy, very little has been revealed regarding Barney's background, with there being no mention of his parents or family in the series to date. Barney is dedicated to his girlfriend Daisy, a dedication displayed in his regret at keeping her in the dark over his choice to attempt going to university. Jack Stringer described Barney as "the geek of the group... very passionate about what he likes... he thinks he's a bit of a lad." Barney also has a "bromance" with Hugh Darvill, his landlord, with the pair of them enjoying geeky pleasures together, such as debating over films and their shared admiration for actor Hugh Jackman. A running gag throughout the series is a suggested sexual attraction of Hugh's part towards Barney, which Barney consistently rebuffs.
Jordan Cottle as Hugh Darvill, a gay, narcissistic erotic novelist with a career that never quite made it off the ground. Hugh specialises in writing gay erotica for children, which has made him a wildly unsuccessful writer. As such, he bears a distinct jealously for Daisy, whose career has taken a very different trajectory. Hugh is typically portrayed as rude, selfish, and vain with a narcissistic streak - however, he has also been known to display a softer side, often being the voice of reason for his friends in their time of need. Hugh is particularly close with Jess, who he believes to be just as "strange" as he is, and also has a close friendship with Barney (Hugh is the only person Barney trusts with the information of his university audition). Outwardly, Hugh has shown an adoration for scarves, wearing a variety of them over the course of the first season before finally settling on a single, red scarf in the season one finale. Of Hugh, Jordan Cottle said "he's sarcastic, he's a narcissist, he's quite vain... he's a bit socially detached. He doesn't really understand people and it has some hilarious consequences." He added: "[He] isn't a very nice guy. I mean, he can be, when he has to be. But it's usually for his own selfish needs that he's nice to other people." Jordan Cottle also directed the season two episode Jenny's Version, and will direct the upcoming Christmas Special.
Grace Martinson as Jennifer "Jenny" Sinclair, an excitable literary agent with a connection to the various writers, as well as an unrequited attraction towards Emmett. Initially a small, recurring role in the first season, Jenny's presence was expanded in the second, with the character's personality fleshed out in the second-season episode Jenny's Version. Jenny is a small-time literary agent, operating out of "Sinclair Talent", a company founded by her father. Although good-intentioned, Jenny's attempts to boost or preserve her client's reputations often backfire, as seen in the season one episode One Flew Over the Sparrow's Nest. In the first season, Jenny is presented as almost a caricature, known for her signature uses of the words "fabulous" and "darling". In season two, the character's backstory and personality was expanded on, revealing a troubled individual who masked her true emotions behind an eccentric facade of glamorous behaviour, fur coats and sunglasses. Jenny's troubles often stem from her unrequited adoration of Emmett, which Emmett mistakes for simple lust. Grace Martinson described Jenny's views of Emmett as "she's really quite in love with him. But no-one knows. Just her..." In season two, Jenny finally confesses her feelings for Emmett to Daisy, allowing herself to move on and pursue an interest in Parker James instead.
Joseph Dowling as Parker James III (Season 2) - A wealthy playboy philanthropist and childhood friend of the Shelby siblings. Parker is introduced in the second season as a counterbalance to Jenny's feelings for Emmett, serving as the antagonist of the episode Jenny's Version. An arrogant millionaire philanthropist, he shares similar character traits with Hugh, but is also shown to be a womaniser, attracting the attentions of both Jess and Daisy (with the latter there is implied to be a past romantic connection between them). Parker was described by Joseph Dowling as "a bit of an ass, honestly... he's quite arrogant, which doesn't go down well some times." Of Parker and Jenny's relationship, he added "it's a personality clash. They don't get on to start with. She's so strong-willed and slightly eccentric... I think [she] sort of intrigues him a little bit." Initially a recurring guest star, Dowling was upgraded to main cast in March 2016.[1]
Liz Stewart as Clarice Sparrow (Seasons 1-2) - Emmett's first serious girlfriend, and Jess' main rival to his affections. After breaking up with Emmett in the season one finale, she returns in the second-season premiere, where she is revealed to be a psychotic manipulator who had been intentionally making Jess unhappy throughout the events of season one out of jealousy.
Ben Walker as Chauncey (Season 1) - Hugh's psychopath boyfriend. Although he doesn't physically appear in season two, he is referenced several times, particularly by Barney.
A first season of six episodes was announced on 2 July 2014 and premiered on 24 January 2015.
A second season of seven episodes was confirmed on 18 March 2015 and premiered on 6 February 2016. On 24 July 2016 Adam T Cottle confirmed the series would conclude at the end of the second season in an extended, ninety minute finale.
On 18 March 2016 it was announced that Writers will return for a one-off Christmas Special in Christmas 2016. Jordan Cottle will direct the special from a script by himself and Adam T Cottle. Grace Martinson announced that she would leave the series during the special. It was also announced that the series had been renewed for a third and final season, although due to cast scheduling conflicts, no production or premiere date for the third season was given.
On 24 July 2016 series creator Adam T Cottle announced the series would conclude with the season two finale, cancelling both the Christmas Special and potential third season. In October 2016 it was announced the series would conclude with a feature-length special titled "Writers: The Final Chapter". A teaser trailer was released on October 8th with the reveal that the film would be released "when it's ready".
