Can You Keep a Secret? with Dawn French and Mark Heap begins tonight

Last year it was revealed comedy royalty, Dawn French and Friday Night Dinner favourite, Mark Heap, were joining forces for a new BBC sitcom. Can You Keep a Secret? will follow the life of Debbie Fenton (Dawn French) as she hilariously navigates tough decisions in life and death.

As the show begins on Wednesday 7th January, here's everything you need to know, including the plot and full cast details.

What is Can You Keep A Secret? about?

Written and created by Simon Mayhew-Archer (This Country) and directed by Simon Hynd (Ghosts, Motherland), it's guaranteed to be brilliant.

In a post uploaded to Instagram on 19th November, the BBC shared a series of first look images, writing: 'Debbie’s got a plan. It’s illegal. It’s brilliant. 🔦🤫 #CanYouKeepASecret coming soon to #iPlayer

'Debbie isn’t actually a widow and William didn’t really die... he was just mistakenly declared dead and the two retirees found themselves staring down the barrel of an opportunity too good to pass up. Just a few months hiding out in the loft waiting for the life insurance to pay out and then they can live out their golden years in peace.”'

Mark Heap (best known for his performance as Friday Night Dinner's annoying neighbour, Jim) stars as Debbie's husband William, who finds himself mistakenly declared dead. Cue scenes with William hiding in the loft, waiting for a life insurance pay-out.

The BBC say: 'The two retirees found themselves staring down the barrel of an opportunity too good to pass up, Just a few months hiding out in the loft waiting for the life insurance to pay out and then they can live out their golden years in peace.

'This all proves a bit much for their easily frazzled son Harry. Reunited with a dad he’s just buried and the reality that his parents have turned into a pensioner version of Bonnie and Clyde, Harry suddenly has a lot more to juggle. Sandwiched between two generations of toddlers, Harry finds himself navigating a very common stage of life - only this time, it’s criminal.'

Dawn French (The Vicar of Dibley, French and Saunders) said of the new show: "At last...a sitcom where I can keep my top on...mostly," while Kenton Allen, Executive Producer and CEO Big Talk Studios, said: “Working with Dawn French has been a career-long ambition and to have her inimitable comedic brilliance join forces with the extraordinary Mark Heap and the Simons - Simon Mayhew-Archer and Simon Hynd - is every producer’s dream. We’re delighted to welcome such talented creative minds into the Big Talk family and can’t wait for viewers to see this highly original family comedy in all its glory.”

When does it start?

We now know the series will begin on Wednesday 7th January 2026 at 9.30pm.

How to watch?

Can You Keep a Secret? airs every Wednesday on BBC One.

If you prefer to binge, all episodes are on BBC iPlayer now.

How many episodes will there be?

Can You Keep a Secret? will be made up of six episodes.

Where is it set?

It's set in the West Country.

Who is in the cast?

As well as Dawn and Mark appearing as the main characters, Craig Roberts plays the role of Harry, the pair's son, with Mandip Gill acting as Neha, Harry's wife and the local police office.

There's also roles for Shola Adewusi, Gregory Gudgeon and Heather Seymour.

See the full cast below:

Dawn French as Debbie Fenton

Mark Heap as William Fenton

Craig Roberts as Harry

Mandip Gill as Neha

Shola Adewusi as Billie Codrington

Heather Seymour as Jean Cotterill

Paul Chahidi as Clive Trunge

Gregory Gudgeon as Pigfish

Mona Goodwin as Dr Samira Harper

Sam Battersea as PC Susan Hinkman

Ian Barritt as Geoff Varley

Shivani Thussu as Pharmacist

Take a look at the first look photos from the show below:

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