Lenny Rush Leads BBC's The Reluctant Vampire, Based on Eric Morecambe's Books
Lenny Rush, 17, takes his first series-lead role in The Reluctant Vampire, a new BBC comedy adapted from Eric Morecambe's children's books, starting Sunday 4 October.
Lenny Rush is in the spotlight because his new BBC comedy, The Reluctant Vampire, arrives this weekend. The series is based on the children's books written by comedy great Eric Morecambe, and Rush plays the title character, Val.
What the show is about
Val is the heir to a vampire family, with all the expectations that come with that. The trouble is that he has never got to grips with the bloodthirsty traditions. According to the Guardian, his teeth aren't pointy and he hates the taste of blood.
Then his mum reveals the reason: he isn't a vampire at all, but human. Val ends up caught between two worlds, trying to hide his secret and protect his family while working out who he is, the BBC says.
The Guardian reports that the opening scene has Tom Davis, in full vampire costume, about to strike an elderly victim in her bed. Rush then bursts in to say he needs a wee.
Who is in it
The series is written by Neil and Rob Gibbons, the team the Guardian links to Alan Partridge. Davis plays Victor, Sian Clifford plays Valeeta and Gabriel Nagy plays Vernon. Ellie-May Sheridan plays Gertie, Val's friend. Rush previously worked with Sheridan on Dodger.
Rush also names Asim and Pat Shortt among his co-stars. He says he spent much of filming trying not to laugh during scenes with Davis and Asim.
How it came together
Rush says he first heard about the books from Shane Allen, chief creative officer at Boffola Pictures. Allen loved the books as a child and had wanted to adapt them for years. Allen was also executive producer on Am I Being Unreasonable?
Rush told the BBC they held a Zoom meeting in late 2022 about getting the rights. By 2025 they were making the show. He told the Guardian the scripts were written with him in mind.
He compares the tone to The Naked Gun and Airplane!, and says he thinks it is for everyone, not only children.
Rush's career so far
Rush is 17 and started on TV at seven in the CBeebies series Our Family. At eight he played Eli in Apple Tree House. He won a Bafta at 14 for best male performance in a comedy for Am I Being Unreasonable?, and was nominated for the same award again this year.
He also appears in the latest season of Slow Horses. Rush names Will Ferrell as his favourite comic actor and David Brent as a lasting inspiration.
Also read Bella Ramsey Joins Celebrity Traitors: Why Giggles Could Be Their Biggest Risk
What it means for you
If you want to watch, The Reluctant Vampire starts on Sunday 4 October on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. You can add it to your iPlayer Watchlist ahead of the launch. The BBC describes it as the perfect start to the spooky season.
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