Hollander to star in new church sitcom

BBC Two has ordered a new sitcom about a frustrated city vicar, starring In The Loop actor Tom Hollander.

He will play Reverend Andrew Smallbone, who moves from a sleepy rural parish to a ‘socially divided’ London one in the new comedy, which he also co-devised..

Executive producer Kenton Allen said the show, which has the working title Handle With Prayer, would be 'the antithesis of any religious comedy you’ve ever seen’. He added that it would tackle issues from middle-class parents pretending to be Christians to get their children into good schools to poor, single mothers turning to the church for help.

The BBC said the series is based on research with church insiders to make it more authentic.

The six half-hour episodes will be directed by Full Monty director Peter Cattaneo and made by Big Talk Productions.

Big Talk is also to make a full six-part series of Young, Unemployed And Lazy for BBC Three following a succussful pilot earlier this year.

Written by Stefan Golaszewski of the Cowards sketch group, it is set entirely in a couple’s bedroom and stars Russell Tovey and Sarah Solemani.

Published: 29 Oct 2009