E4 commissions its first sitcom - Baggy Trousers

E4, Channel 4's digital terrestrial channel, has just commissioned its first ever original UK sitcom series.

Baggy Trousers, named after a hit single by the band Madness (pictured), follows the lives of four youngsters as they grow up in the "tedious confines of suburbia".

An E4 spokesman told MediaGuardian: "It's a world of failed driving tests, futile crushes, sibling brawls, trying to get girls to like you and endless embarrassments in front of giggling peers".

Baggy Trousers is written by Ian Morris and Damon Beesley with much of the material apparently based upon their own experiences of growing up in the commuter belt. Morris is a former C4 comedy commissioning editor who's script editing credits include Peep Show and the current Ruddy Hell! It's Harry and Paul. Meanwhile Beesley is a comedy producer who's previous work includes executive producing Jimmy Carr's stand-up tour video.

The Channel 4 Head of Comedy Film, Caroline Leddy, has commissioned Bwark Productions to make five half-hour episodes of the new sitcom. Bwark, setup by Beesley and Morris recently, is quickly making its mark on the comedy scene – the writer's production company has also recently gained a commission from Five to produce Angelo's and piloted comedy on BBC3 too.

UPDATE: A few months after this news story was published, 'Baggy Trousers' was re-named 'The Inbetweeners'. It was later broadcast on E4 in May 2008. Our Guide to The Inbetweeners.