Rhys Darby to play washed-up illusionist

Rhys Darby is to play a hapless magician in a one-off comedy to air on Channel 4 later this year, Chortle can reveal.

The Amazing Dermot is part of the broadcaster’s Comedy Showcase season, which has previously launched full series of Plus One, The Kevin Bishop Show and Free Agents.

The Flight Of The Conchords star - who is currently appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe – will play Dermot Flint, a one-time big-name magician trying to get his career back on track after ‘an unfortunate incident involving two brothers and some French kissing under hypnosis’. In the space of a week Dermot's wife leaves him, his TV show is cancelled, and he moves into rehab.

The Office's Ash Atalla is executive producer on the sitcom, which is being made by his company Rough Cut this summer. It also features Darren Boyd, who previously co-starred in the BBC One sitcom Kiss Me Kate opposite Amanda Holden.

The commission was announced last month, but no cast were known until now.

Andrew Newman, head of comedy at Channel 4, says: ‘The Comedy Showcase season will be putting new and innovative ideas and scripts into the heart of the Channel 4 schedule while featuring new talent both on and off screen.’

Other shows in the season are based around sports commentary, a university campus, a mobile phone shop, an energy drink company and the British home of a prisoner released from Guantanamo Bay.

Published: 10 Aug 2009