Lenny Rush discusses leading role in BBC comedy The Reluctant Vampire

Lenny Rush, the young actor who won a Bafta while still a teenager, is taking on the lead role in a new BBC comedy, The Reluctant Vampire, which reworks classic slapstick comedy traditions into a vampire-themed sitcom.

Rush plays Val, the title character, a role he says was written with him in mind. According to Rush, executive producer Shane Allen had loved the source books since he was young, and Allen also served as executive producer on the comedy Am I Being Unreasonable?.

A nod to classic slapstick

The Reluctant Vampire draws on a tradition of British comedy built around absurd scenarios, exaggerated characters and a surrealist sense of humor. Rush compares the show's tone to the film comedies The Naked Gun and Airplane!, citing its ability to generate humor from unexpected, audacious situations.

The series is written by the same team behind the sitcom Alan Partridge, known for crafting comedy out of awkward and uncomfortable moments. The Reluctant Vampire extends that sensibility into a fantastical setting featuring characters such as talking bats and gargoyles.

Rush pushed back on the idea that the show should be seen narrowly as children's programming. He said that while some series are labelled as family shows despite being aimed primarily at kids, he believes The Reluctant Vampire is intended to appeal to viewers of all ages.

The comedy marks another high-profile role for Rush, who has built a following among British audiences since his Bafta-winning breakthrough at a young age.