BBC revives Comedy Showcase

BBC1 in the UK has ordered three new half-hour specials as part of a revival of its Comedy Playhouse season.

The UK pubcaster’s Comedy Playhouse season has previously launched shows such as Steptoe And Son and Till Death Us Do Part via one-off specials before they were extended into full seasons.

Miller’s Mountain (1×30′, working title), produced in house, explores the lives of a group of Mountain Rescue volunteers and is being written by Donald McLeary.

Over To Bill, which stars Hugh Dennis and Neil Morrissey, is being written by Doug Naylor (Red Dwarf) and follows the repercussions following the firing of a TV weatherman. It’s being produced by Baby Cow/Three Feet Productions.

Finally, new sitcom Monks follows a 20-year-old man who becomes a monk to avoid being jailed for benefit fraud. It’s written by Danny Robins, and is being produced by BBC In-house Comedy production, with Pete Thornton attached as exec producer.