Simon co-wrote autobiographical series

BBC Two has commissioned a new sitcom from Simon Amstell.

The former Never Mind The Buzzcocks host will star in Grandma's House, which he wrote with his long-term collaborator Dan Swimer.

Tow years in development, the series was inspired by Amstell's Jewish upbringing in Essex.

The six half-hour episodes, made by Tiger Aspect, will start filming in Feburary and transmit later in the year.

The cast includes Sense And Sensibility actress Linda Bassett as Grandma, Benidorm’s Geoffrey Hutchings as Grandpa, Rebecca Front as Mum and Spook’s Nicola Walker as Auntie Liz.

BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow said: ‘Simon Amstell is a great comic talent and I am looking forward to his venture into sitcom. The script is very funny and I can't wait to see it brought to life on BBC Two.’

Amstell previously worked with Swimer on PopWorld and Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and the League Of Gentlemen’s Jeremy Dyson will be script editor.

Producer Ben Cavey added: ‘Simon and Dan have brought their razor-sharp wit to the family sitcom genre and the script is an absolutely modern take on family.’

Published: 12 Oct 2009