Living with Abaddon

Janet ‘The Cleaver’ is free to find happiness. Life’s hard when you’re stuck with a criminal record, an asshole husband and a scheming demon.

‘Living with Abaddon’ is an original comedy series set in present-day British suburbia. Exploring themes of mental health, ageing and sexual uniformity, the story has fantasy and horror elements weaved throughout.

In this world, people are targeted by demons to do their foul bidding. Most are oblivious to their antics, but some can interact with these entities, people like JANET WHEELER, who’s convinced she’s controlled by a medieval demon masquerading as her protector.

These unlikely soulmates met in the 1990s when Janet was an insecure newly-wed. ABADDON (1500) preys on Janet’s perpetual state of emotional flux, promising her a life she yearns for, but one she could never hope to achieve with cheating husband DON WHEELER.
The demon manipulates Janet into committing a string of crimes, each more daring than the last, which we see through flashbacks of Janet’s memory.

In a plot to return Abaddon to human form and take Don’s place as her lover, the pair select a vessel: hunky neighbour JIM BLAND. For the transformation to work, this stud needs to die by Janet’s own hand, but she falters, and the demon’s rage takes over. This bloody gruesome murder was Abaddon’s finest work – and Janet’s ultimate downfall.

We catch up with Janet, now 59, as she’s about to be released from prison. Her return brings uncertainty, especially now she's off her medication. Abaddon is back, and his crass, medieval attitude isn’t helping the situation.

The Wheeler home is unwelcoming, but Janet still hopes to rewrite the lost years of her marriage. Janet’s homecoming is gate-crashed by Don’s scheming mistress, JOAN STAPLE. In tow, their intense daughter BARBARA and her obsessive social media addiction.

Money’s too tight to mention, and everyone wants more. Joan pressures Don to take one for the team and shag Janet – to uncover the whereabouts of Janet's hidden cash. Janet’s determined to live a normal life, but pressure for a return to crime comes from all sides (especially Abaddon). Janet reluctantly accepts but struggles to find a healthy work-life-demon balance.

In the community, The Cleavers’ return has reopened painful wounds. Learning of her release, BRENDA BLAND, the aggrieved widow of Jim, launches a witch-hunt against her nemesis. Nets are twitching and as the media descends, police superintendent BARRY SOAMES is dispatched to restore order. Barry delves into Janet's past and discovers more disturbing home-truths. Leaving the past behind isn’t going to be easy, for anybody...

For Janet, unlikely alliances blossom with Barbara and Barry. Meanwhile, Don becomes desperate to keep his wife by his side, playing on her insecurities and good nature. Masquerading as Janet’s champion, Abaddon steps in to sabotage the marriage.

In ‘Living with Abaddon’, Janet endures calamities and capers: the death of her psychic mother, grave-digging, shop-lifting, a doomed romance, a surprise pregnancy, a caravan holiday, another murder plot, and a ‘shit-load’ of cash.

Time after time, Janet struggles to regain composure and ultimately realises that to take control, she must find a way to control her demons and be herself.