Martin Clunes Set For New Comedy

Martin Clunes is set to star in a new comedy series for BBC One.

Clunes will star as Warren Thompson, a pedantic driving instructor who believes the world is against him. Warren is forced to move from the south of England to Preston when his partner Anne's father becomes ill. Suddenly, the titular character finds himself living in an area he doesn't like, doing a job he isn't cut out for, and looking after two teenage step-sons.

Warren is written by Paul McKenna and Jimmy Donny Cosgrove and will be made by Hat Trick Productions for BBC One. The series was ordered for BBC One by Charlotte Moore, Director Content and Shane Allen, Controller Comedy Commissioning. The Commissioner for the BBC is Kate Daughton. The executive producer for Hat Trick is Helen Williams, Tom Jordan is producer and the director is Adam Miller.

Martin Clunes said: "I had kind of told myself that I didn't want to do another sitcom, but because this came from Hat Trick I thought it was worth a read and the script is just so funny that I didn't want anyone else to do it."

Jimmy Mulville, Managing Director, Hat Trick Productions, commented: "Great scripts attract great actors and this was the case with Warren. Martin plays the central role to perfection and is supported by a fantastic cast. We can't wait to make it."

Shane Allen, Controller Comedy Commissioning at the BBC, added: "BBC One mainstream comedy is our highest priority and the toughest nut to crack. We have enormous faith in Warren as the pilot displayed the perfect alchemy of well-drawn characters, punchy funny lines, a terrific ensemble cast and in Martin Clunes a heavyweight comedy champion who we're delighted to see step back in to the ring of a BBC One sitcom."

Further casting and transmission details will be announced in due course.

Image: BBC Media Centre.

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre

(JP/MH)