2017 TV comedy highlights

2017 could be a good year for TV comedy. Whilst much of the schedule is unknown (in fact some shows to be on air this year might not even have been thought of yet), here are some interesting sounding series we know are in development.

Back (Channel 4)

Back. Image shows from L to R: Cass (Louise Brealey), Stephen (David Mitchell), Andrew (Robert Webb), Uncle Geoff (Geoffrey McGivern), Ellen (Julia Deakin). Copyright: That Mitchell & Webb Company / Big Talk Productions

Peep Show stars David Mitchell and Robert Webb are reunited in this sitcom written by Simon Blackwell. When Stephen's dad dies it's finally his chance to shine running the family's pub... that is until charismatic foster child Andrew unexpectedly returns home. Guide

Bucket (BBC Four)

Bucket. Image shows from L to R: Fran (Frog Stone), Mim (Miriam Margolyes)

A new sitcom about a reserved history teacher in a rut, and her mum, who is an eccentric free spirit who believes "70 is the new 40". When the mother (played by Miriam Margolyes) reveals she is dying and wants to go on a road trip to tick items, one by one, off her preposterous bucket list, Fran (creator Frog Stone) feels that she has no choice but to go along for the ride. Guide

Carters Get Rich (Sky 1)

Carters Get Rich. Image shows from L to R: Liz Carter (Kerry Godliman), Harry Carter (Rio Chambers), Tony Carter (Rhashan Stone), Trent Zebrisky (James Van Der Beek), Ellie Carter (Rhianna Merralls)

A new family-friendly comedy from Sky, who are perhaps hoping to create a British version of Modern Family here. The series follows 11 year-old Harry Carter who creates Honc, an app for geeky kids like him who don't know how to talk to girls. Honc becomes the next big social networking app and it is bought for £10 million. The cast includes Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek. Guide

Decline And Fall (BBC Two)

Decline And Fall. Paul Pennyfeather (Jack Whitehall). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

The first television adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's 1928 satire, marking 50 years since the author's death. Jack Whitehall takes on the lead role of Paul Pennyfeather, an expelled Oxford student who gets into all kinds of adventures, alongside Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria. Guide

Foreign Bodies (E4)

Image shows from L to R: Anders Hayward, Ade Oyefeso, Brittney Wilson, Alice Lee, Tim Key

A top class writing team (Tom Basden, James Wood, Tony Roche, Charlie Covell, Tim Key and Jonny Sweet) has created this eight part comedy drama about a motley gang of travellers who are embarking on a three month trip around Asia. Guide

Loaded (Channel 4)

Image shows from L to R: Jim Howick, Samuel Anderson, Jonny Sweet, Nick Helm

Jim Howick, Samuel Anderson, Jonny Sweet and Nick Helm star in this comedy drama about four friends who become multi-millionaires when they sell their video games company. Guide

Morning Has Broken (Channel 4)

Camping. Fay (Julia Davis). Copyright: Baby Cow Productions

This project has been in development for a long time now, but is finally set to come to Channel 4 this year. It's a black comedy about the simultaneous collapse of a daytime TV star's personal and work lives. Julia Davis (last seen in Camping, pictured) stars. She has written it alongside co-star Nick Mohammed, and Friends actor David Schwimmer has role. Guide

Quacks (BBC Two)

Quacks. Image shows from L to R: William (Mathew Baynton), Robert (Rory Kinnear), Dr. Hendrick (Rupert Everett), Caroline (Lydia Leonard), John (Tom Basden). Copyright: Lucky Giant

This lavish comedy drama focuses on the extraordinary, daring and wild days of Victorian medicine. It follows the progress of four young medical pioneers fighting to make a mark on the world, beat their rivals, and save lives. Mathew Baynton, Rory Kinnear, Tom Basden and Lydia Leonard are the main stars. Guide

Sick Note (Sky Atlantic)

Sick Note. Image shows from L to R: Daniel Glass (Rupert Grint), Dr Iain Glennis (Nick Frost). Copyright: King Bert Productions

Starring Rupert Grint and Nick Frost, this new comedy has a great premise. It focuses on Daniel Glass, a compulsive liar who's stuck in a failing relationship and a dead end job. Just when things couldn't get any worse, he's diagnosed with cancer and everyone starts to treat him better. However, when Daniel discovers the diagnosis was a mistake, the doctor responsible is forced to help him with what are now a series of lies. Guide

The Cloud (Channel 4)

Adam Buxton's Shed Of Christmas. Adam Buxton. Copyright: Burning Bright Productions

This new sci-fi sitcom comes from the minds of Adam Buxton (pictured) and Graham Linehan. It's set in the future, on a data-hub floating about Earth which has the job of protecting the vast amounts of information the human population now hoards on its endless devices. Guide

The Nightly Show (ITV)

The latest attempt to bring a Daily Show type format. It's an ambitious new entertainment format from ITV. They've already spent millions piloting it quietly and are moving The News At 10 out of the way for two whole months, so they really are going for it. Each week will have a different guest host. First up will be David Walliams. Guide

Timewasters (ITV2)

Timewasters. Image shows from L to R: Nick (Daniel Lawrence Taylor), Lauren (Adelayo Adedayo), Horace (Samson Kayo), Jason (Kadiff Kirwan). Copyright: Big Talk Productions

Timewasters is a comedy about a struggling four-piece South London jazz band who travel back in time to the 1920s via a urine-sodden lift in a dilapidated block of flats. Stuck in the past after their 'time machine' is destroyed, the gang decide to explore, before quickly discovering that being young and black in the jazz age is a lot less genteel and a lot more shady than Downton Abbey had led them to believe. Guide

White Gold (BBC Two)

White Gold. Image shows from L to R: Brian Fitzpatrick (James Buckley), Vincent Swan (Ed Westwick), Martin Lavender (Joe Thomas). Copyright: Fudge Park

This comedy project is linked to The Inbetweeners by the fact it's been created by one of the co-writers (Damon Beesley) and reunites stars Joe Thomas and James Buckley. It's set around a double-glazing showroom in Essex in 1983, led by charismatic salesman Vincent (Ed Westwick). Smart, handsome and cocksure, Vincent will happily break the rules if it guarantees a sale. Guide

The Trip. Image shows from L to R: Steve (Steve Coogan), Rob (Rob Brydon)

Those are just a selection of the new formats for 2017 that we know about. There will be more announced over the next few months, so keep an eye on our news area.

On top of the brand new ideas, popular returning series we can look forward to on our screens again later this year include Catastrophe, Count Arthur Strong, Cradle To Grave, Cuckoo, Inside No. 9, Man Down, People Just Do Nothing, Red Dwarf, The Trip and W1A.

Relatively newer formats that impressed last year will also be back. Fans can look forward to new editions of from Peter Kay's Car Share, Flowers, Mum, Upstart Crow and Witless, to name but a few.

Meanwhile, pilots Home From Home, Hospital People, Motherland and the new version of Porridge will all become a full series this year.

To find out more about all the above shows and many more, plus radio, film and online comedy, you are on the right website. Have a browse around.

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