Muslim 'leader' in new sitcom

The BBC is to make a sitcom based on on the character Mr Khan, the self-styled Muslim community leader character from Bellamy’s People.

Six half-hour episodes of Citizen Khan will air on BBC One in autumn 2012.

The commission was announced just a week after featuring in the Salford Sitcom Showcase, a BBC scheme to showcase new writers. Six scripts - including offerings from stand-ups Jason Cook and Pippa Evans – were performed in the BBC’s new Greater Manchester base.

Executives chose to develop Adil Ray’s creation, who has also previously featured on the Radio Four comedy series Down The Line and in a series of 12 shorts for the BBC’s website.

Cheryl Taylor, the BBC’s head of comedy commissioning, said: ‘The Salford Sitcom Showcase was designed to encourage more studio sitcoms to be produced and filmed in the North West. We are delighted that within one week of Adil Ray's phenomenal performance as Citizen Khan the show has been commissioned as a six-part series for BBC One. It will prove a wonderful companion piece to our other studio sensations, Mrs Brown's Boys and Miranda.’

Ray said: ‘It's been an incredible journey so far working with a great writing team, cast and invaluable support from all at BBC Comedy. I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to bring laughter to our living rooms.’

The series will be made in-house at MediaCityUK in Salford but set in the Sparkhill district of Birmingham.

Here is Mr Khan on the subject of Nick Clegg, before last year's election:

Published: 21 Oct 2011