Bill Murray to star in golf trip for BBC2 and Paramount+

Caddyshack and Ghostbusters actor Bill Murray is to front an Ireland-based golfing road trip for BBC2, BBC1 Northern Ireland and Paramount+.

Belfast-based Stellify Media will tie with US production company Skydance Sports, part of the newly formed Paramount Sports Entertainment, to produce the 6 x 30-minute Off Course (w/t).

Inspired by Tom Coyne’s New York Times bestseller A Course Called Ireland, Murray will bring his family, celebrity friends and long-time golfing companion Tom Coyne to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to take on some of their most iconic golf courses.

The series will focus on the joys of life and occasionally taking a wrong turn and offer an insight into the country and its people.

Murray said: “I started out caddying, and golf was the best education I ever received. Ireland feels like the right place to put all that to work.

“They’ve got this wonderful word there, ‘craic,’ which means fun, but it means a lot of other things. A lot of good things. And this show will be about us finding it.”

The showrunners and exec producers are Casey Scharf and Morgan Roberts, and the series director is Chris Cottam. The Skydance Sports exec producers are Jesse Sisgold, Jason T. Reed, Jon Weinbach and Greg Groggel. Kieran Doherty and Matt Worthy exec produce for Sony Pictures Television-owned Stellify.

The series was ordered for the BBC by head of factual entertainment and events Catherine Catton and head of Northern Ireland commissioning Eddie Doyle with commissioning editors Cal Turner and Jason Butler.

Catton said: “This is a series full of humour, heart and adventure, set against some of the most beautiful backdrops imaginable – and we can’t wait for audiences to come along for the ride with Bill.”

Stellify co-chief exec and co-founder Kieran Doherty added: “Getting the opportunity to show off this gorgeous island we call home has been a privilege and a delight. Expect magic, mayhem and mischief in equal measure.”