Carry On Reboot Producer Under Investigation For Fraud

With the news that the ‘Carry On’ film franchise is to get a reboot, it’s emerged that its producer is being investigated for tax evasion and a dispute regarding financial payments.

Reports via the Mail Online suggest that independent producer Jonathan Sothcott has failed to pay various members of staff and a Facebook group called ‘Jonathan Sothcott Fraud Investigation’ has been set up in the hope of encouraging other fraud victims to come forward.

It was only last week that Sothcott said he planned to offer the lead role of his first reboot to TV and stage actress Sheridan Smith. Even though he proclaimed on Twitter he’d be flying to the Cannes Film Festival to make the big announcement that ‘Carry On Doctor’ and ‘Carry On Campus’ would be the first films made, he instead tweeted the news from a Mayfair bar he (jokingly?) called ‘Carry On HQ’.

Over the past 10 years, nine of Sothcott’s companies have gone bust and two were sorted out by a court order. With an HMRC investigation under way, his lawyer said: “Each company has a story that would explain what happened.”

The producer’s currently in charge of 10 companies, with Hereford Films - the production house set to make these new ‘Carry On’ movies - currently in a reported ‘dormant’ state.

This unwanted publicity clearly isn’t the best way to attract talent to appear in the rebooted franchise, nor is it particularly flattering to have this sort of negativity engulfing the person who’s spearheading the venture.

A number of people who’ve joined the anti-Sothcott Facebook page have stated they’ve been duped out of payment or have had a hard time chasing up what’s owed to them.

Actor Joel Morris said: “When I tried to contact him about pay, I was blocked on all social media by his related accounts. I didn’t receive any payment until a year later.”

Another, Jonathan Glendenning, claims: “He made me direct a film for him, then screwed me over. It was a scam.”

Sothcott remains adamant that the Facebook group has been fabricated and says the claims are nothing more than smear attempts: “It’s just some stalker making it all up. None of it’s true – I don’t even know who the nutter is.”

Whatever the truth is, it sounds like a far-fetched comical farce somewhat fitting to the age-old capers of the very franchise itself.

Read more:
Ken Loach Wins Palme d’Or At Cannes
Shane Black Reveals His Idea For Lethal Weapon 5
Olivia Munn Reveals Gruelling X-Men: Apocalypse Regime

Picture credit: WENN, Peter Rogers Productions