Mitchell and Webb to star in Embassy comedy

Mitchell and Webb are to star in a new BBC Two comedy-drama series set in a British Embassy.

David Mitchell will play the ambitious new ambassador to the corrupt and oil-rich Tazbekistan in Our Men, with Robert Webb playing his No2.

Mitchell said: ‘There comes a time in the life of every youngish actor when he knows he will never play James Bond. This is not that time. We're still holding out for that, but Our Men might be good to practice on.’

Webb added: ‘It's sort of Yes, Prime Minister meets Spooks at a bad disco and Yes, Prime Minister is a bit sick on Spooks, but Spooks doesn't mind. It's like that.’

Plotlines will include trying to convince the local dictator to give UK plc a major helicopter contract - while also criticising him for his appalling human rights record; rivalries with the French and American embassies, lust between the staff and the strains of bringing your family to such an appalling place.

The series will go into production in January 2013

Kenton Allen, chief executive of producers Big Talk said: ‘We’re thrilled to announce our first Mitchell and Webb commission, launched with the brilliant writing of James Wood and Rupert Walters. It was always our ambition to move David and Robert into a 60-minute comedy drama so this is a wonderful start to our adventures together.’

Our Men was commissioned by BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow, and departing head of comedy commissioning, Cheryl Taylor.

Published: 23 Aug 2012