Ricky in soccer sitcom spin-off

Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson is set to star in an ITV sitcom based on his movie Mike Bassett: England Manager.

The broadcaster is said to be in negotiations with the actor, and Amanda Redman who played his wife in the 2001 film, about reprising their roles.

In the movie, Tomlinson’s bumbling football manager improbably lands the England job three games before the World Cup – and manages to get the team into the final.

According to the Guardian, in the spin-off sitcom Bassett “will find himself in an Alan Partridge-esque situation, having fallen on hard times and managing third-division Wirral County”.

ITV is making a concerted effort to improve its languishing reputation for comedy, in recent years commisisoning Hardware, Frank Skinner’s Shane, animated satire 2DTV and The Sketch Show for the 10pm slot.

ITV omedy controller, Sioned Wiliam said: "Mike Bassett was a huge hit in cinemas and we are thrilled to be bringing these great characters back in this new incarnation."

Published: 6 Oct 2004