One Direction set to star in their own comedy series
Boy band One Direction are reportedly looking to expand their multi-million pound music brand into a comedy TV series.
The Daily Star reports that the group's management are working towards a "1D TV comedy/music series".
The newspaper reports that comedy writers have been hired to work on scripts for a pilot sitcom, which would be set in Los Angeles and revolve around the five members solving problems for friends. The pilot would also feature some of the band's hit songs.
One Direction - which comprises of Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson - is now one of the biggest bands in the world thanks to its teenage fans buying millions of singles and albums.
The group are due to launch a fourth studio album later this year, and will head on a stadium tour in 2015. They are currently touring the world. Asked whether the band would be taking any time off, a source told The Daily Star: "The boys and the team have agreed that taking an extended break is not needed. They have been loving the tour so far, and have all got a renewed lease of energy."
The source added: "Discussions about another stadium tour next year are already on-going. A new TV show is also being discussed. At this stage the pilot sees them living in Los Angeles by the beach."
The insider confirmed that the project would be a comedy, explaining: "Comedy writers will be working on it, so that it really gives all the boys a chance to shine, and be a great advert for their new music. The show will be peppered with guest cameos, too."
The paper reports that the pilot is expected to be filmed in spring 2015, but adds: "No series has been commissioned yet, and it is all very hush-hush"
One Direction is signed to Syco Records, Simon Cowell's company. Its sister company Syco Entertainment already has a hand in making television programmes, including Britain's Got Talent.
One Direction won't be the first youth-friendly music group to have made a sitcom. In 1999, pop group S Club 7 launched via a CBBC TV comedy, Miami 7, which saw them living in the Floridian resort city. Subsequent series saw the band move to LA, Hollywood, and Spain. Little remembered boy band North & South also enjoyed their own career-launching childrens' TV sitcom, No Sweat, during 1997 and 1998.
More recently, musical comedy outfit The Midnight Beast have made two series of their own self-titled E4 sitcom after finding success on YouTube.
Below is a recent One Direction spoof music video by The Midnight Beast: