...thanks to that monkey

Johnny Vegas has landed a TV series - thanks to the stuffed ITV Digital monkey.

The adverts starring Vegas and the monkey have been so successful that they are to be turned into a proper series.

And the show is likely to be broadcast on terrestrial ITV1, rather than the struggling digital service they advertise.

The pair may also release a pop single later in the year, according to the Daily Record.

Mark Waites, of advertising agency Mother said: "During rehearsals for the ads, it started looking more likely that Monkey would be picked up by the public. We knew there could be spin-offs."

The monkey, created by The Jim Henson Company, is voiced by comic Ben Miller.

Published: 17 Jan 2002