BBC’s new comedy raises awareness of Parkinson’s

Can You Keep A Secret is a new comedy, written and created by Simon Mayhew-Archer and starring Dawn French (The Vicar of Dibley) and Mark Heap (Green Wing). It airs on BBC One, on Wednesdays at 9.30pm from 7 January 2026.  

In the programme, Mark’s character William lives with Parkinson’s, a diagnosis inspired by Simon’s dad, Movers and Shakers podcaster and comedy writer, Paul Mayhew-Archer. Since his diagnosis in 2011, Paul has embraced comedy as a way of taking serious illness less seriously. 

Over the 6 episodes, the programme talks about various symptoms and challenges that come with living with Parkinson’s, bringing awareness and understanding of the condition to a wider audience. Paul Mayhew-Archer has acted as script adviser to make sure the condition is shown accurately.

In the programme, William talks about common symptoms of Parkinson’s, including freezing, tremor and sleep disturbances, as well as some topics that can be harder to talk about including bowel issues and sex. Read more about the symptoms of Parkinson's.

Parkinson's research is also mentioned in one episode, highlighting the ongoing search for new treatments and ultimately, a cure. As the leading European funder of Parkinson’s research, we’re playing our part. And seeing it highlighted on prime time BBC can only help us get there sooner.

But we can’t do it without generous donations. If you’ve been inspired by William’s friends and family, make a donation today and help fund groundbreaking research.