Sally Phillips plays Ingrid in Austin(Image: (Image: BBC))

Death in Paradise star's new show labelled 'ridiculously good fun' by viewers

by · NottinghamshireLive

BBC One is set to air a hit comedy series featuring Death in Paradise actor Ben Miller. The eight-part series, Austin, which originally premiered in Australia last year, will start airing in the UK on Friday, 4th April.

The plot revolves around children's author Julian, portrayed by Miller, who discovers he has an adult son while on tour in Australia. This revelation comes as a result of an affair he had at the beginning of his relationship with his wife Ingrid, played by Sally Phillips.

The cast also includes Michael Theo, known for Love on the Spectrum, as Austin, Gia Carides as his mother Mel, and Roy Billing as his grandfather Bill. Other notable appearances include Billie Piper, who makes a cameo as herself, reports the Express.

The series was well-received by audiences and critics alike upon its debut. A review in The Guardian praised it as a "This very funny and sharply executed comedy series has a big heart, underneath a thick layer of dry, cheeky humour. Another season please."

Austin is set to begin airing on BBC One(Image: (Image: BBC))

The West Australian also lauded the show, stating: "In an age when so much television feels like recycled concepts or stuff we've seen before, it's refreshing to discover a show that is so absolutely of itself, it's impossible to compare it to anything else."

They further added: "This is a truly obscure concept for a series and in lesser hands could easily have been woefully unfunny. But this is ridiculously good fun...this is a laugh-out-loud must-see."

TV enthusiasts have hailed Austin as an "absolute gem" lavishing it with a perfect "10/10" in their glowing reviews.

The official synopsis for Austin details: "When much-loved children's author Julian Hartswood inadvertently causes a social media storm (when reposting a tweet from a white supremacist), his career and that of his illustrator wife Ingrid appears to be over.

"That is until Austin, the neurodivergent son that Julian never knew existed, turns up out of the blue. Could embracing this modern nuclear family be Julian's route back from cancellation?".

"Will Ingrid ever forgive him? One thing is for certain: if Julian thinks Austin is going to be a pushover, he's in for a rude awakening."