Netflix confirms comedies from Friday Night Dinner and Derry Girls creators
Netflix has ordered two new British comedies unveiled at the Edinburgh TV Festival 2026: Marbles from Friday Night Dinner creator Robert Popper and Jig, a mockumentary from Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee. Marbles already has a star-studded cast, while Jig begins filming in Northern Ireland in 2027.
The streaming giant is doubling down on acclaimed UK and Ireland comedy talent at a moment when both creators' previous hits still rank among Britain's most loved modern sitcoms. For viewers who grew up on Friday Night Dinner family chaos and Derry Girls' Northern Irish wit, the back-to-back announcements signal Netflix's continued bet on character-driven British humour.
Key Takeaways
- Netflix ordered Jig and Marbles at the Edinburgh TV Festival 2026.
- Robert Popper's Marbles follows a couple juggling lively sons and difficult ageing parents.
- Lisa McGee's six-part Jig is a mockumentary set in competitive Irish dancing.
- Marbles stars Robert Webb, Timothy Spall, Alexandra Roach, Denise Welch, and Louise Brealey.
- Jig filming starts in Northern Ireland in 2027; casting for both shows is still unfolding.
What is Marbles, the new Friday Night Dinner creator comedy?
Marbles comes from Robert Popper, who created Channel 4's Friday Night Dinner. Netflix describes it as a "laugh-out-loud" comedy about Sam and Samantha, a couple raising "ridiculously lively young boys" while caring for "ridiculously difficult ageing parents."
The synopsis captures everyday absurdity: stopping kids from hiding keys in a bowl of milk, coping with a child sleeping in a cardboard box, and trying to convince a seventy-five-year-old father to move out. Popper's pitch frames it as "a glorious mess" about to get messier.
Unlike Jig, Marbles has confirmed casting. Robert Webb (Peep Show), Timothy Spall (Death Valley), Alexandra Roach (No Offence), Denise Welch (Tip Toe), and Louise 'Loo' Brealey (Such Brave Girls) lead the ensemble. Spall and Welch play the problematic grandparents; other role assignments remain unspecified.
What is Lisa McGee's Jig mockumentary about?
Jig is a six-part mockumentary executive produced by McGee alongside Liz Lewin, Caroline Leddy, and Suzanne Mackie for Orchid Pictures. It marks her second Netflix project after mystery comedy How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, which premiered earlier in 2026.
The series follows best friends Cara and Fletcher, dancers at the struggling Sweeney School of Dance in Derry. Their rivals are a slick, sponsored, seemingly unbeatable Florida school. Both teams race toward the World Championships, with the trophy outcome left open.
Donegal Daily notes McGee has filmed extensively in Donegal for Derry Girls and How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, and that Irish dancing communities in Donegal and Derry frequently compete at events such as the Derry Feis. Whether local dancers inspired Jig remains to be seen when casting is announced.
When will Jig and Marbles arrive on Netflix?
Netflix has not announced premiere dates. Radio Times reports Jig is due to commence filming in Northern Ireland in 2027, meaning a release is likely afterward. Marbles appears further along given its assembled cast, though Netflix only states both comedies are "coming soon."
For context on how these creators' track records compare to other streaming bets, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub for related entertainment and market coverage.
Why do these Netflix orders matter for British comedy?
Both Derry Girls and Friday Night Dinner recently placed fifth and sixth respectively in a Radio Times reader poll of the greatest modern British sitcoms from a 25-title shortlist. That legacy gives Netflix two proven voices at a time when UK comedy fans crave new series with the same warmth and specificity.
The Edinburgh TV Festival reveal also underscores how global streamers continue commissioning British originals rather than relying solely on US imports. For full details on both projects, read the original Radio Times report.