BBC1 unveils its autumn comedy series
BBC One revealed its autumn schedule today. All the comedies we expected to be included are indeed listed. Here's a summary:
OUTNUMBERED: Hugh Dennis, Claire Skinner and Samantha Bond star in this new sitcom about the daily chaos of family life. The comedy is about 'two parents and three young children, locked in an unequal contest'. Outnumbered is written by the creators of Drop The Dead Donkey, Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton - with elements of improvisation it apparently promises to be quite unlike any other family comedy you've seen. Our Guide
AFTER YOU'VE GONE: Nicholas Lyndhurst reprises his role as Jimmy Venables - a divorced father-of-two who finds himself in the distinctly unenviable position of living with his mother-in-law. While Jimmy's ex-wife stays in Africa to tend the victims of a natural disaster, domestic calamities continue at home as Jimmy and his patrician mother-in-law, Diana (Celia Imrie), attempt to share both a roof and parental duties. With a smart-talking daughter, Molly (Dani Harmer, star of Tracy Beaker), alongside eccentric son, Alex (Ryan Sampson), the challenges facing this unlikely duo could hardly be more daunting. Our Guide
NOT GOING OUT: This award-winning sitcom returns for a second series. Happy-go-lucky Lee (Lee Mack) has a problem. His flatmate, Kate, has moved out for good and his best mate and landlord, Tim (Tim Vine), has put the apartment up for sale. Faced with the prospect of being homeless, Lee rents the spare room to Tim's ambitious younger sister, Lucy. Unfortunately, the arrangement turns out to be far from perfect. Sibling rivalry turns into full-on anxiety as Tim quickly becomes suspicious of Lee's influence on his kid sister, while Lucy grows more and more worried about her brother's inability to get a girlfriend - or a promotion. And, to complicate matters even further, Lee starts to seriously question the suitability of Lucy's new boyfriend! Our Guide
THE GREEN GREEN GRASS: The cast of the Only Fools and Horses spin-off return for a third series. The series will focus on the mysterious thing that the Driscoll brothers buried in the series two finale. Our Guide
THE OMID DJALILI SHOW: The British-Iranian stand-up comedian (pictured) joins BBC One for his own prime-time stand-up and sketch show. The show will be "a unique fusion of Omid's hugely successful and highly energetic stand-up, comedy sketches and characters". The show 'takes a grown-up swipe at modern-day life in a multicultural society'.
THE ARMSTRONG AND MILLER SHOW: Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller join together again to create another series of sketches. Viewers can expect a line-up of new characters including the politically incorrect satnav and its near-the knuckle-instructions; Pru and Miranda, two fat ladies who can neither cook nor run Dandy Lions, their brain-meltingly inefficient vegetarian restaurant in Hampstead; retired Essex gangster and self-appointed guardian of public decency, Mr Foley; and Tony and Dimitri, a Keegan-esque football manager and his Russian oligarch boss. And that's just a taster - there are nearly 100 other characters in the series, all with a whiff of Armstrong and Miller's exquisite nose for the absurd!
HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU: The topical panel show will be back for a 34th series.
LEARNERS: A 'heart-warming' comedy drama written by, and starring, Jessica Hynes (nee Stevenson). It following the trials and tribulations of a group of learner drivers. Learners also stars David Tennant and Shaun Dingwall.
MUTUAL FRIENDS: A comedy drama which follows the disastrous sequence of events for happily married man Martin after his best friend Carl throws himself under a train. Will star Marc Warren, Keeley Hawes and Alexander Armstrong.
PEOPLE LIKE US: Not to be confused with the similarly titled 1990s satire starring Chris Langham, this comedy drama follows three couples who meet to celebrate a friends birthday. Alun Armstrong, Elizabeth Berrington, George Cole, Lee Evans, Rupert Graves, Alison Steadman and Jessie Wallace feature.