Dustin Milligan’s accountant falls for Irish Diona in CBC & BBC comedy

CBC and BBC Northern Ireland have confirmed a new comedy partnership, unveiling the first set of promotional images for a forthcoming series that will star Dustin Milligan and Diona Doherty.

The two actors are set to play characters that cross cultural lines: Milligan’s Peter Hooley, a Canadian accountant, finds love with Doherty’s Julie Doherty, a recently divorced Northern Irish accountant.

The images show the pair in various scenes suggesting the start of a romance that began over a whirlwind weekend in Toronto. Peter then travels back to Northern Ireland to win Julie’s heart, only to discover the country’s old‑fashioned and eccentric traditions.

The photographs hint at the comedic tension that will arise when a mainland North American meets a small‑town Irish community.

## What Happened

CBC and BBC Northern Ireland released a set of first‑look images this week that outline the premise of the new series. Dustin Milligan portrays Peter Hooley, a Canadian accountant who falls in love with Diona Doherty’s character, Julie Doherty, a recently divorced Northern Irish accountant.

The promotional photos show the pair in a of scenes that hint at Peter’s attempt to declare his affection after spending a weekend together in Toronto. They also show him navigating the idiosyncrasies of County Down, where the series will be filmed.

The images include supporting characters such as Ian McElhinney as William John, Julie’s gruff father; Seamus O’Hara as John William, her daft brother; Patrick Buchanan as Rev.

Campbell Smiley, a minister who prides himself on being the village’s guardian; Dan Gordon as Ivan Johnston, a black sheep of the Johnston clan and William’s brother; Muki Zubis as Chimamanda, Julie’s best friend; and Chris McCurry as Mervyn, Chimamanda’s husband. Additional cast members listed are Athena Karkanis and Georgie Murphy.

The release confirms that the show will air on CBC and the CBC Gem streaming platform in winter 2027, with BBC Northern Ireland slated to broadcast it at the same time.

## Background & Context

The series is a joint production between Cameron Pictures and Fabel Productions, made under the UK‑Canada Co‑Production Treaty. Filming currently takes place in County Down, Northern Ireland, with additional scenes shot in Hamilton, Ontario.

The project is part of the Northern Ireland Screen/Canada Media Fund Co‑Development Initiative for Audiovisual Projects.

Key creative talent includes co‑creators Keith Martin, Gerry Dee and showrunner Tim Loane. The writers are Loane, Deel Jessie Gabe and Shebli Zarghami, with supervising producer Kurt Smeaton and consulting producer Linsey Stewart. Molly McGlynn directs the pilot and four additional episodes; Peter Huang directs five.

Executive producers on the project include Amy Cameron, Tassie Cameron, Alex Patrick for Cameron Pictures; Fabel’s Martin; Loane; Gabe; and McGlynn. Co‑executive producers are Milligan, Karen Tsang, Caledonia Brown and Shebli Zarghami. Chris Martin is listed as producer.

Financing comes from the Canada Media Fund and Northern Ireland Screen. For CBC, the team overseeing the series includes Sally Catto (General Manager Programming), Trish Williams (Executive Director Scripted Content), Sandra Picheca (Director Current Production Comedy) and Mélanie Lê Phan (Executive in Charge Current Production).

BBC Northern Ireland’s commissioning staff features Eddie Doyle (Head of Content Commissioning) and Jason Butler (Commissioning Editor).

## Production & Release Plans

Cameron Pictures and Fabel Productions are leading the production under the UK‑Canada Co‑Production Treaty, a framework that supports cross‑border media collaborations. The partnership allows shared resources and distribution rights, ensuring the show can reach audiences in both Canada and the United Kingdom.

The series will be broadcast on CBC’s linear channel and its streaming service CBC Gem in winter 2027. BBC Northern Ireland has confirmed a similar launch window, suggesting a coordinated rollout across both broadcasters. No specific premiere dates have yet been announced beyond the general winter 2027 timeframe.

With its blend of Canadian and Irish humor, the series aims to explore cultural differences while delivering light‑hearted storytelling. The collaboration between two major broadcasters and the involvement of experienced writers and producers set a solid foundation for a show that could appeal to audiences in both countries.

The first look at the new comedy has sparked anticipation among fans of Dustin Milligan’s work on *Schitt’s Creek* and Diona Doherty’s performances in *Derry Girls*. As production continues, viewers can expect further updates from CBC and BBC Northern Ireland regarding episode releases and promotional material.