New sitcom inspired by soaps

Drop The Dead Donkey creator Andy Hamilton has been commissioned to write a comedy 'mini-soap' for BBC1.

Timothy West, Stephen Tomkinson, Sheila Hancock and Meera Syral have all been lined up to star in Bedtime.

The six-part show will be set in the bedrooms of three neighbouring couples in a London street, with each episode ending in a cliffhanger, industry website produxion.com reports.

Beeb chiefs are hoping the show will spice up its struggling comedy output.

Recent prime-time comedies such as The Savages, Lee Evans: So What Now? and Office Gossip have all attracted disappointing ratings.

Published: 25 Jun 2001