HBO Max and BBC Three Get "Starstruck"

Six-Part Comedy Series Created by, Written, and Starring Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner Rose Matafeo to be Broadcast on BBC Three in the UK, Streaming on HBO Max in the US

LOS ANGELES - August 12, 2019 - Starstruck, a brand new six-part comedy written, created by and starring 2018 Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Rose Matafeo has been commissioned by BBC Three and HBO Max and is an Avalon Television production.

Starstruck will follow twenty-something Rose (Rose Matafeo), a millennial in London, juggling two dead-end jobs and navigating the awkward morning-after when she discovers the complications of accidentally sleeping with a movie star. As well as being broadcast on BBC Three in the UK, HBO Max will be the streaming partner for the series in the US.

"The BBC have been so supportive of this project from the get-go and to be able to get this show in front of American audiences at the same time via HBO Max is truly exciting," says Rose Matafeo. "I'm thrilled we get to make it, otherwise it would've technically just been a creepy fan fiction script that I submitted to the national broadcaster. The team we've brought together for this series are absolute dreamboats and I'm super excited to be working with them."

"Very rarely does a comedy talent land as fully formed and instantly magnetic as Rose," says Shane Allen, controller comedy commissioning at the BBC. "Her assertive millennial female voice is the perfect fit for BBC Three given the strong track record we have in launching sitcoms that speak to a younger audience. Prepare to be utterly enchanted by her winning blend of whip smart writing and the rich character world she has created."

"The minute we were introduced to Rose and Starstruck, we knew we had something special," said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content, HBO Max. "She is exactly the type of original, culture-forward creator we are excited to be working with at HBO Max and we are looking forward to a long partnership."

"Comedy is a huge focus for BBC Three and it always performs really well for us," says Fiona Campbell, controller, BBC Three. "We already have some great comedy characters and writers that our audience loves and we're really excited to add Rose's voice to that list and introduce her to the channel."

"Rose is an exceptional talent and we are delighted with the incredibly important immediate support from the BBC and very pleased we are partnering with HBO Max on this exciting show," added Jon Thoday, executive producer.

Rose Matafeo is a comedian and actress who won "Best Comedy Show" at the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2018 for her solo show Horndog which has enjoyed sell-out performances around the world including the New Zealand International Comedy Festival and a Barry Award nominated run at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

Starstruck was commissioned by Shane Allen, Controller Comedy Commissioning at the BBC and Fiona Campbell, Controller of BBC Three, while the Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Gregor Sharp. Executive Producers are Rose Matafeo, Jon Thoday, Richard Allen-Turner and Rob Aslett.

About Rose Matefeo

Rose Matafeo won "Best Comedy Show" at the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2018 for her solo show Horndog which has enjoyed sell-out performances around the world including at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival and a Barry Award nominated run at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Rose's previous credits include the three-part series Rose Matafeo: Temp for Channel 4's Comedy Blaps, W1A (BBC Two), Have I Got News For You (BBC One), The Royal Variety Performance (ITV), and Conan (TBS). In New Zealand, Rose was the head writer and star of Funny Girls (TV3) and has just completed her first lead film role in the upcoming feature Baby Done (Piki Films).

Comedy on BBC Three

BBC Three has enjoyed a purple patch recently with a host of stand-out scripted comedies that have attracted award nominations, critical acclaim and big audiences. Fleabag, This Country, The Young Offenders, People Just Do Nothing and Back To Life are just a few examples of comedy success on the channel of late. Comedies returning to BBC Three soon include a second series of Enterprice and the return of Man Like Mobeen and Famalam. BBC Three also continues to be the place on the BBC that nurtures the next generation of comedy writers and performers with a host of pilots and short form comedy debuting recently on the channel including Ellie & Natasia, a sketch show written by and starring Ellie White and Natasia Demetriou and Muzlamic, a sketch comedy show that explores modern Muslim life written by and starring Ali Shahalom and Aatif Nawazall.

About HBO Max

HBO Max is WarnerMedia's direct-to-consumer service debuting in spring 2020. With 10,000 hours of curated premium content anticipated at launch, HBO Max will offer powerhouse programming for everyone in the home, bringing together HBO, a robust slate of new original series, key third-party licensed programs and movies, and fan favorites from Warner Bros., New Line, DC, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes and more. Sign up for updates at HBOMax.com.

About WarnerMedia

WarnerMedia is a leading media and entertainment company that creates and distributes premium and popular content from a diverse array of talented storytellers and journalists to global audiences through its consumer brands including: HBO, HBO Now, HBO Max, Warner Bros., TNT, TBS, truTV, CNN, DC, New Line, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others. Warner Media is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T).

About Avalon

Avalon is a multi-award-winning talent management, television production and live promotion group with offices in London, New York and Los Angeles. Avalon and ARG, the talent management arm, has discovered and represents many artists that are household names, both in the UK, the USA, and around the world. Avalon Television is the number one true independent television production company in the UK and produces numerous ground-breaking television shows including: multi-Emmy and Peabody award winner Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO); multi-award winning and Emmy-nominated Catastrophe (Channel 4/Amazon Prime Video); RTS and Rose d'Or winning Not Going Out (the BBC's longest running sitcom currently on air); BAFTA and RTS-nominated Taskmaster (DAVE/UKTV); Sky's most successful new entertainment launch since 2010, The Russell Howard Hour (Sky); the forthcoming Breeders, co-created by Martin Freeman, Chris Addison and Simon Blackwell (Sky/FX); and two seasons of Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas (HBO). As well as iconic shows including: Fantasy Football League (BBC/ITV); the multi-BAFTA award-winning TV Burp (ITV); and seven seasons of Workaholics (Comedy Central USA). Live, Avalon produced Newman and Baddiel: Live at Wembley, the UK's first arena comedy show; Jerry Springer: The Opera, the first West End show to win all four UK 'Best New Musical' awards; and has continued to produce live shows globally, as well as promoting more winners and nominees of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award than any other company. For Avalon news visit: www.avalonuk.com/press or follow @avalonent