"The English Neighbour"
Bulgarian television comedy series
Based on the novel by Mihail Veshim
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About the Series
The English Neighbour is a Bulgarian television comedy series produced by Bulgarian National Television. Conceived in 2004 and brought to the screen in 2011, the series was developed from the novel of the same name by the Bulgarian writer and satirist Mihail Veshim.
The story belongs to a recognisably Bulgarian comic world: local character, social observation, provincial humour and the everyday absurdities of a country changing quickly in the years around its accession to the European Union. Its central figure is played by the British actor Leslie Grantham, whose presence gave the production an unusual international dimension while keeping the tone rooted in Bulgarian life.
The long road from idea to broadcast became part of the series' own history. The project was proposed to BNT in 2004, waited through competitions, funding delays and changes in the public broadcaster, and finally entered production in 2010. The premiere followed on 7 September 2011.
The original Bulgarian page preserves a humorous production chronicle by Penko Rusev, placing the making of the series alongside world events, political changes, film-industry statistics and private jokes from the years 2004-2012. For this English archive version, that chronicle is presented as part of the production background rather than as a literal translation.
Conceived in 2004 and completed for broadcast in 2011, the series features the special participation of British actor Leslie Grantham.
Production Information
Shooting period
30 July 2010 to 22 September 2010
Producer:
Bulgarian National Television
Executive producer:
Film Company "Two and a Half"
Director: Docho Bodzhakov
Screenwriter: Mihail Veshim
Composer: Kiril Donchev
Director of Photography: Ivan Varimezov
Production Designer: Miroslav Marinov
Costume Designer: Virginia Dodova
Sound Director: Aleksandar Simeonov
Genre: Comedy
Format: Television series
Number of episodes: 4
Running time per episode: 60 min
Camera: Beta Digital PAL SD
Watch the series
All four episodes of the Bulgarian television series "The English Neighbour".
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Leslie Grantham
In memory of Leslie Grantham (1947–2018)
With gratitude for his participation in "The English Neighbour" and for the friendship, humour and professionalism he shared with the Bulgarian cast and crew.