Shedites, a brand-new 30-minute BBC comedy special created and written by Paddy Houlihan, brings warmth, humor, and genuine heart to the festive season by celebrating the transformative power of community spaces. Set around Rathbowen Men’s Shed in a rural Irish village, the special follows a group of aging friends building a recycled bike to compete in a local “Santa Spin” race—a comedic journey that explores masculinity, purpose, camaraderie, and the unexpected ways friendships sustain us through life’s later chapters.
The special marks a significant creative milestone for Paddy Houlihan, who steps into the creator/writer role while maintaining his on-screen presence as “Paddy the Liar.” Featuring an ensemble cast including Mrs Brown’s Boys co-stars Brendan O’Carroll and Danny O’Carroll, alongside acclaimed British and Irish talent including Phil Davis (Trying), Simon Delaney (Lockerbie), Shane Casey (The Young Offenders), and Deirdre O’Kane (Stand-up Comedian), Shedites represents both creative expansion and genuine star power.
Produced by BBC Studios Comedy in partnership with BOC-PIX, the special promises to deliver what BBC Director of Comedy Jon Petrie describes as “a warm, charming and funny comedy special that should deliver a shed full of laughs.”
Plot Summary: Building Friendship, One Bike at a Time
The central plot operates with elegant simplicity that belies its emotional and comedic richness. The residents of Rathbowen Men’s Shed—a community space where men gather to build, repair, and maintain tools and projects—decide to undertake an ambitious construction mission: building a new bicycle from recycled parts.
This isn’t merely a manufacturing exercise. The bike’s purpose is specific and time-bound: winning the local “Santa Spin” race, a community competition that carries genuine stakes for the participants. This context adds layers of meaningful drama. For these men, typically retired or facing life transitions, the competition represents more than a casual hobby—it offers the possibility of recognition, achievement, and validation.
As Paddy Houlihan described the creative vision: “It’s a privilege to see actors I’ve admired for years bring real depth to characters that began in my imagination. Alongside a crew who’ve poured skill and graft into every frame, they’ve taken what was on the page and lifted it to the screen with humour, honesty, and heart.”
The Potential Outcomes and Stakes: The special’s synopsis emphasizes the stakes: “If they succeed, it’ll be a rare triumph for the lads. And if they don’t, Councillor Orla will make sure they hear about it.”
This formulation captures essential comedic and emotional truth. Success would indeed represent a “rare triumph”—suggesting these men typically experience setbacks, disappointments, and the weight of aging and obsolescence in contemporary society. Failure carries its own comedic jeopardy: the threat of Councillor Orla (Deirdre O’Kane) ensuring they experience public humiliation. This character serves as the comedic antagonist—a local authority figure who embodies small-town politics and petty power dynamics.
The “Shenanigans” and Complications: The promotional materials promise “plenty of shenanigans, bruised pride and a fair dose of stubbornness.” These ingredients suggest the special doesn’t depend on the bike-building plot alone. Instead, interpersonal dynamics—misunderstandings, ego clashes, competing visions of how to approach the project—generate comedy and character moments.
The Central Characters: Six Men and Their Personalities
Jimmy (Brendan O’Carroll) – As the nominal leader or most prominent member, Jimmy carries weight and charisma. Brendan O’Carroll’s involvement suggests this character carries narrative significance. O’Carroll’s real-life age (now 69 years old) aligns authentically with the character type being portrayed.
Harry (Phil Davis) – The seasoned English actor Phil Davis, born July 30, 1953 (now 72 years old), brings gravitas and authentic character work to Harry. Davis’s career encompasses Mike Leigh films, prestige dramas (Vera Drake, Whitechapel), and acclaimed television (Poldark, Trying).
Gavin (Simon Delaney) – Born September 2, 1970, in Dublin, Delaney brings an Irish sensibility to Gavin. Delaney’s recent work includes acclaimed television including The Woman in the Wall and Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, indicating his continued professional prominence in prestige drama.
Cheesy (Danny O’Carroll) – Real-life son of Brendan O’Carroll, Danny brings family authenticity alongside professional acting experience. His involvement signals the family connections that run through Mrs Brown’s Boys extending into other projects.
Paul (Shane Casey) – Born 1980, in Cork, Shane Casey is best known for The Young Offenders, where he portrayed Billy Murphy across both film (2016) and television series (2018-2024). His involvement brings recognizable Irish comedy sensibility.
Paddy the Liar (Paddy Houlihan) – Houlihan, creator and writer, plays Paddy the Liar, a character type rooted in Irish folk tradition. The epithet “Liar” carries specific meaning in Irish cultural context—someone who embellishes stories, someone unreliable yet entertaining, someone whose creative interpretation of truth provides comic fuel.
The Production: BBC Studios Comedy and BOC-PIX Partnership
Shedites represents a significant creative collaboration. The special is produced by BBC Studios Comedy, a division that has established itself as British television’s premier comedy production operation, responsible for acclaimed shows including Here We Go, Two Doors Down, and Mrs Brown’s Boys itself.
The co-production partnership with BOC-PIX, Brendan O’Carroll’s production company, signals collaborative creative decision-making. Brendan O’Carroll serves as Executive Producer for BOC-PIX, indicating his creative input extends beyond on-screen acting. Steven Canny, Executive Producer for BBC Studios Comedy, has become one of British television’s most significant comedy producers—a role requiring both creative judgment and production expertise.
Creator Paddy Houlihan expressed the collaborative dynamic: “Alongside a crew who’ve poured skill and graft into every frame, they’ve taken what was on the page and lifted it to the screen with humour, honesty, and heart. Watching Shedites come to life has been a surreal experience.”
Brendan O’Carroll similarly expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “It’s inspiring and exciting to be filming Shedites. I saw this as a germ of an idea in Paddy’s head. To see it come to fruition is everything his talent deserves.”
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy, commissioned the special and characterized Houlihan’s talent: “Paddy has a real feel for character-led humour that properly lands. Shedites is a warm, charming and funny comedy special that should deliver a shed full of laughs.”
The commissioning editor, Seb Barwell, oversaw the project through development and production phases.
The Cultural Context: Men’s Sheds as Social Infrastructure
The special’s setting—a men’s shed—carries specific sociological and cultural significance. Men’s sheds emerged as a social phenomenon primarily in Ireland and the UK as community spaces offering:
- Practical purpose: Opportunities for men to build, repair, and maintain tools and projects
- Social connection: Combat isolation and loneliness, particularly among older men
- Sense of purpose: The ability to contribute meaningfully, remaining useful and valued
- Mental health support: Informal counseling and emotional sustenance through shared activity
- Intergenerational learning: Transmission of skills and knowledge across age groups
The promotional materials specifically highlight these themes: “It’s a place where men make themselves useful building and repairing things, and along the way find company through unlikely friendships, a sense of purpose, and a mug of strong tea. For many, the men’s sheds offer a new lease of life, and the Rathbowen shed is no exception.”
By centering comedy around a men’s shed, Shedites implicitly validates these spaces as culturally significant while exploring the human need for belonging, contribution, and recognition—themes that resonate across audiences regardless of age or gender.
Why Paddy Houlihan’s Voice Matters
Paddy Houlihan has spent years working within Mrs Brown’s Boys, contributing as both performer and writer. His decision to create an original comedy concept outside that franchise demonstrates creative confidence and artistic ambition.
Houlihan’s role as creator, writer, and performer indicates his commitment to shepherding the project’s vision. Rather than hiring external writers, Houlihan maintained creative control, suggesting the special emerges from his specific comedic sensibility and understanding of Irish community dynamics.
The fact that established actors like Phil Davis, Simon Delaney, and others agreed to participate in a new Houlihan project suggests confidence in his creative abilities and the quality of the material.
The Broader BBC Comedy Strategy
Shedites arrives as part of a deliberate BBC strategy to diversify its comedy portfolio. Recent renewals and commissions—Here We Go series 4, Two Doors Down’s return after two-year hiatus, Beyond Paradise series 3—indicate the BBC’s investment in character-driven comedy featuring ensemble casts and grounded, authentic storytelling.
Unlike comedies dependent on premise novelty or high-concept plotting, Shedites finds humor in human authenticity. This approach aligns with contemporary audience preferences for comedy that balances genuine entertainment with emotional truth and social relevance.
When and Where to Watch
Shedites will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer during the 2025 Christmas season, with the exact broadcast date to be announced by BBC scheduling.
The special is a 30-minute comedy, consistent with BBC sitcom format, providing sufficient runtime to develop characters and explore comedic scenarios while maintaining focused narrative momentum.
Following its initial broadcast, Shedites will remain available on BBC iPlayer for on-demand streaming, allowing viewers to watch at their convenience during the festive period and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Shedites air?
The exact broadcast date will be announced by the BBC closer to Christmas 2025. It will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
How long is Shedites?
The special is 30 minutes long, providing sufficient time for character development and comedic storytelling.
What is the plot of Shedites?
Six men in an Irish village attempt to build a bicycle from recycled parts to compete in the local “Santa Spin” race. Their quest generates comedy, camaraderie, and explores themes of purpose and friendship.
Who created and wrote Shedites?
Paddy Houlihan, who also appears in the special as “Paddy the Liar,” created and wrote the project.
Who stars in Shedites?
The cast includes Brendan O’Carroll, Phil Davis, Simon Delaney, Danny O’Carroll, Shane Casey, Paddy Houlihan, and Deirdre O’Kane.
Is Shedites related to Mrs Brown’s Boys?
While several cast members (Brendan O’Carroll, Danny O’Carroll, Paddy Houlihan) appear in Mrs Brown’s Boys, Shedites is a standalone comedy special with no direct narrative connection to the long-running sitcom.
What are men’s sheds?
Men’s sheds are community spaces where men, particularly older men, gather to build and repair items, fostering friendships, purpose, and social connection while combating isolation and loneliness.
Will there be more Shedites specials?
No announcements have been made regarding future installments beyond this Christmas special.
