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Dawn French’s ‘Can You Keep a Secret?’ Debuts on BBC One, Full Box Set on iPlayer

Inspired by Simon Mayhew-Archer’s family, the series presents illness with a light touch that cast members describe as truthful.

Overview

  • The six-part sitcom premieres in the U.K. on Wednesday, January 7, at 9:30 p.m. on BBC One, with all episodes available now as a box set on BBC iPlayer.
  • French plays Debbie Fendon, who persuades her mistakenly declared-dead husband to hide as their family navigates the fallout, with Mark Heap, Craig Roberts and Mandip Gill co-starring.
  • Writer Simon Mayhew-Archer draws on personal experience, reflecting his father’s Parkinson’s to shape William’s story and the show’s candid tone.
  • Cast interviews highlight a light-hearted but honest portrayal of Parkinson’s and note that the son’s anxiety and depression are handled without heavy melodrama.
  • Production was based in the West Country using studios near Bristol despite French’s wish to film in Cornwall, and international streaming is planned on Paramount+ later in 2026.