‘Big Boys’ Creator Jack Rooke Signed by UTA (EXCLUSIVE)

UTA has signed British television creator, writer and executive producer Jack Rooke.

Rooke is the creator, executive producer and narrator of U.K.’s Channel 4 series, “Big Boys,” which is based on his award-winning Edinburgh Fringe comedy shows. Set in 2013 comedy-drama produced by Roughcut TV follows shy, closeted Jack (Dylan Llewellyn) who has spent the past year at home with his mother. He’s been grieving for his father but the time has come for him to take his place at university where he meets his roommate, mature student Danny (Jon Pointing) and an unlikely friendship develops.

More from Variety

• UTA Drops Susan Sarandon After Comments at Pro-Palestine Rally in New York

• UTA Signs Laurent Bouzereau, Documentarian and Author of 'Spielberg: The First Ten Years' (EXCLUSIVE)

• UTA Partners With Nick Emmerson to Launch Unscripted Studio HAVE (EXCLUSIVE)

The series premiered to much critical acclaim, receiving a WGGB (Writers’ Guild of Great Britain) award for best comedy and BAFTA nominations including two for best comedy writer and best comedy series. It also scored RTS (Royal Television Society) award nominations for. Season 2, set in the 2014-15 academic year is set to premiere this winter.

Rooke was named as a BAFTA breakthrough last year and won the breakthrough award at the U.K.’s Broadcasting Press Guild (BPG) Awards earlier this year. He wrote and starred in short “Dawn of A New Gay” (2019) and also three-part BBC mini-series “Happy Man” (2017), where he goes on a one-man mission, exploring male identity, mental health and body image.

Outside of television, Rooke wrote a memoir titled Cheer The F**k Up, which was published by Penguin in 2020. He has written and presented several arts programs for BBC Radio. Rooke’s theater debut was “Good Grief” (2015).

Rooke will continue to be represented by Curtis Brown Group in the U.K. and Ziffren Brittenham LLP.

Best of Variety

• New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 

• Oscars Predictions: Documentary Feature – Which 15 Movies Will Make the Shortlist?

• Oscars Predictions: Best Actress - Could Emma Stone Join Two-Timer Winners Jodie Foster and Elizabeth Taylor?

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.