Can You Keep a Secret? is a British dark comedy imported to Paramount+ in which overbearing grandmother Debbie Fendon (Dawn French) will do absolutely anything to “protect” her family, even when she herself is the biggest threat to their stability. When her hermit-like husband William (Mark Heap) is mistakenly declared dead, Debbie seizes the chance to fix their financial problems by committing insurance fraud: instead of correcting the error, she hides William in the attic and proceeds with a fake widowhood while they wait for the payout.

🔔Can You Keep a Secret? [2026] Season 1 premiere date: February 12, 2026 🔔
Their anxious son Harold (Craig Roberts) and his police officer wife Neha (Mandip Gill) are dragged into increasingly absurd cover-ups as more secrets emerge and Debbie reveals additional schemes she has been quietly orchestrating for years. Loosely inspired by the real-life “canoe man” insurance-fraud case, the series balances farce and tension as the family tries to keep both the law and nosy neighbors at bay.
Why it Resonates:
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Headlined by UK comedy icon Dawn French in a juicy, chaotic lead role.
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Mixes true-crime-adjacent premise with warm, messy family dynamics.
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Six-episode run makes it an easy, satisfying binge.
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Appeals to fans of British dark comedies about ordinary people in over-their-head schemes.
Conclusion:
Can You Keep a Secret? brings a sharply written, performance-driven British farce to Paramount+, turning one family’s terrible insurance scam into a funny, stressful, and surprisingly heartfelt exploration of loyalty, denial, and the lies we tell for those we love.
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About Can You Keep a Secret? [2026] TV Series
Can You Keep a Secret? brings a sharply written, performance-driven British farce to Paramount+, turning one family's terrible insurance scam into a funny, stressful, and surprisingly heartfelt exploration of loyalty, denial, and the lies we tell for those we love.
First episode date: February 12, 2026
Network: BBC One, Paramount+, iPlayer
Show type: Crime, Dark Comedy, Family
Status:

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