Role in Bad Mother's Handbook

Catherine Tate is to star in a new comedy-drama for ITV.

She will appear in The Bad Mother's Handbook, based on the novel by Kate Long about three generations of women from the same family,

Tate has been tipped to play the youngest, 17-year-old Charlotte, following the success of her teenage character Lauren in her BBC Two sketch show.

Speaking at the Rose d’Or television festival, ITV head of entertainment and comedy Paul Jackson told MediaGuardian: ‘We really want to bring comedy back to the network.

‘My ambition is to get returning comedy between 8pm and 10pm. A channel that doesn't have comedy in prime time is the poorer for it.

‘Catherine is one of Britain's hottest comedy and acting talents and we are thrilled to be bringing her to ITV1 as a leading lady.’

Published: 20 Mar 2006