Daniel Rigby to star in police sitcom Undercover
TV channel Dave has ordered its first original sitcom, Undercover.
The six-part series is described as a "high stakes action comedy". The show will focus on the story of an undercover police officer who finds himself hopelessly out of his depth when he infiltrates an Armenian crime family.
Previously announced as a pilot but not broadcast, the full series of Undercover will star Daniel Rigby as undercover cop Chris.
Rigby is perhaps best known for playing the music teacher in Big School and a young Eric Morecambe in the acclaimed comedy-drama biopic Eric & Ernie.
His character is described as "a neurotic, over analytical metrosexual who's been searching for a family his whole life and has finally found one. Unfortunately the family he's found are a bunch of psychotic Armenian gangsters and Chris is an undercover policeman who's woefully out of his depth."
The channel explains: "On the basis of his ethnicity (he's an eighth Greek), the former traffic cop has been chosen to infiltrate Armenian crime family, the Sarkissians.
"Things are made even more complicated by the fact that Chris is attracted to two women at the same time - Zoe, his ambitious and driven police handler and Lara, the femme fatale of the crime family - which means he spends every waking moment either falling in love or fearing for his life."
Zoe will be played by Green Wing star Sarah Alexander, with Yasmin Akram (Stella) as Lara. The series will also feature Keith Allen (The Comic Strip Presents), Ryan Sampson (Plebs), Brett Goldstein (Derek) and Michael Socha (Being Human).
Filmed on location in Newcastle, Undercover is produced by Bonafide Films and Baby Cow, the latter being the production company behind hits including Gavin & Stacey and Alan Partridge. The show has been written by Andy Milligan, Sacha Alexander and Mark Staheli, and is directed by Dave Lambert.
Executive Producer Henry Normal explains: "It's sort of Donnie Brasco as a comedy. Full of tension and jeopardy. I can't wait to see it on Dave."
Commissioner Richard Watsham says: "Baby Cow and Bonafide Films have developed a brilliant set of scripts, dark and funny with an almost frenetic pace to the action. We've made a commitment to extending our original scripted content across the network and this is one of the first exciting steps making good on that promise. Expect much more from us soon."
Steve North, General Manager of Dave, adds: "We are excited to be extending our comedy remit on Dave by continuing to grow our breadth of original commissions and welcoming some of Britain's best comedy actors and writing talent to the channel."
Dave owner UKTV is investing in more original programming. The channel's other sitcom - Red Dwarf - is due to return for another series next year. Other new commissions include Hoff The Record, a mockumentary starring David Hasslehoff. Original Dave formats Ross Noble Freewheeling and Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled will both return for second series, and a second run of Crackanory begins next week. Additionally, a second series of Dave Gorman: Modern Life Is Goodish is currently on air, with a third already commissioned.
Undercover will be broadcast on Dave in 2015.