Gervais and Merchant's new sitcom

The BBC has confirmed that it has commissioned a six-part series of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s new series Life's Too Short.

The series, starring 3ft 6in actor Warwick Davis, will be filmed next year, following a successful pilot.

News of the commission for BBC Two comes as little surprise, as Gervais has long been talking of it as a series – and has even said he plans a film spin-off.

Both he and Merchant will appear as themselves in the show, which revolves around Davis’s daily frustrations as a dwarf actor.

Gervais said: ‘Third in our trilogy of TV sitcoms, Life's Too Short is another naturalist observational comedy, dealing with everyday problems, human foibles and social faux pas... but with a dwarf.’

Davis added: ‘I am absolutely thrilled that the BBC has green-lit the first series of Life's Too Short. For me, it is my dream acting job. I will be collaborating with the very best in the business.’

Davis – whose credits include Star Wars and the Harry Potter series – previously worked with the duo on an episode of extras.

The series will be made in-house at the BBC with Gervais and Merchant directing and executive producing alongside BBC comedy chief Mark Freeland.

Freeland said: ‘Warwick Davis has done it all – blockbuster movies, books... but never starred in a comedy series on BBC Two. But that's about to change and it's incredibly exciting.’

Published: 17 Sep 2010