ITV wants female-led sitcom from Peep Show writers

ITV1 has ordered a female-led sitcom from Peep Show creators Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong which they are billing as a modern take on BBC classic The Liver Birds.

The Liver Birds was a BBC sitcom which ran for nine series between 1969 to 1978. Created by Carla Lane and Myra Taylor, the comedy charted the ups and downs of two "dolly birds" who shared a flat on Huskisson Street, Merseyside.

The new sitcom, titled Hibbert and Long, is to be made by ITV Produtions. Stand-up comedian Kerry Godliman and actor Lucy Montgomery (from Tittybangbang) will play the two lead roles whilst Tom Ellis (Oliver Cousins in EastEnders) plays their love interest. Simon Day (The Fast Show, Grass) will also be making an appearance, he will play the part of a pub landlord in the comedy.

An ITV insider told Broadcast Magazine: "A lot of people have talked about the death of the sitcom but Black Books showed it was about finding the right vehicle. Hibbert and Long has a lot of energy and feels fast-paced and modern but it still has the warmth and charm of older shows."

The comedy is currently at the pilot stage so it won't be on our screens for a while yet.

Hibbert and Long is the latest in a string of commissioning announcements from ITV. The network is investing heavily in comedy this year in an attempt to find another hit comedy to join Harry Hill's TV Burp which now has a large established audience.