The voice behind Love Island stars in a new comedy loosely based on his real life – and it looks like a right old rib-tickler. Want to discover more about the show before the first episode airs on Thursday 5 August on ITV2/HD (CH 115/176)? Then read on to find out the answers to all the big questions.

What is Buffering about?

In this new six-part comedy, we follow Iain (Iain Stirling) in his job as a children’s TV presenter. However, there’s one tiny sticking point – he doesn’t really like kids. Other than that, he’s in a bit of a rocky relationship with a TV producer called Olivia (Elena Saurel, Killing Eve), and to top it off, he’s still living with housemates.

We recently caught up with Jessie Cave (Harry Potter And the Half-Blood Prince), who plays Rosie in the show, to find out a bit more. “It’s a really fun show about a group of friends who live together in their late 20s, or early 30s,” Jessie explains, “but I guess it’s not simple. It’s not just fun and games – there are some tricky subjects woven in.

“But I think that’s accurate with what happens in life, you can have kind of bad stuff happen and you can still have fun, be happy and find joy in things. I think it’s quite accurate about what it’s like to be a human.”

And it sounds like acting alongside the show’s lead was every bit as fun as you’d expect: “Iain is a true stand-up in that he’s never not trying to make someone laugh – he’s so funny all the time. He has this keen ability to make a whole room laugh just before a take. And his character is basically exactly the same as he is in real life.”
 

Where have I heard that Iain Stirling name before?

Iain Stirling is a Scottish comedian from Edinburgh. He’s the voice behind Love Island, and the husband of TV presenter Laura Whitmore. When studying law at university, he found making people laugh to be more attractive than the judicial system, appearing in finals for Paramount Funniest Student and Chortle Student Comedian of The Year. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Is there a trailer for Buffering?

Technically, yes – there is a trailer for Buffering. It’s a little sneak peek from Stirling, the writer, which he posted on Twitter, providing a first look at the flatmates and his partner, Olivia.

And you say this Stirling fella has co-written the show?

That’s right. Stirling has teamed up with BBC New Comedy Award winner Steve Bugeja (The Russell Howard Hour, CelebAbility, Economics with Subtitles) to come up with all six episodes of this brand new series.

Who else is in the show?

Apart from Stirling, there’s a raft of top comic talent appearing, including: Lolly Adefope (This Time With Alan Partridge, Ghosts), Vicky Pattison (Geordie Shore), Joel Dommett (The Masked Singer), Sam Womack (EastEnders), Alistair Green (Mandy), Phil Fletcher (Hacker T. Dog), Nigel Ng and Michael Spicer.

When is Buffering on TV?

Buffering premieres with a double episode on Thursday 5 August on ITV2/HD (CH 115/176) at 10pm. The show is also available to watch in Apps & Games > ITV Hub.