And his new series will air online first

Peter Kay is to make his first sitcom for BBC One, about two supermarket workers in a car-share scheme.

In an unique move, all episodes of Car Share will all premiere on BBC iPlayer before they air on BBC One.

Kay will direct the episodes, which will be filmed in the North West of England, and star alongside unknown actress Sian Gibson.

The BBC says: ‘They play John and Kayleigh who have been thrown together in a company car share scheme, forcing their paths to cross as they journey to their respective jobs at a major out of town supermarket. Each journey brings fresh insight into John and Kayleigh's lives, with twists and turns in their unlikely relationship.  The series is set and will be filmed in the north-west.

Kay said: ‘To be finally working with the BBC on a new comedy is a great opportunity. And the idea of two people car sharing to work each day really appealed to me, as it highlights the comedy in the minutia of the daily trek and allows the spiralling conversations of life to unwind in all of their glory.’

The BBC’s head of comedy commissioning, Shane Allen, added: ‘Everyone adores Peter. It’s bold and exciting for him to head in a more naturalistic comedy direction with this project. It will be a nifty new addition to his incredible body of work and the way it is being launched is very canny.’

The series – which will be made by Kay’s own company Goodnight Vienna – was created by newcomers Tim Reid and Paul Coleman.

Car Share will be the first ever series to premiere on iPlayer in its entirety before a normal transmission, as part of a trial approved by the BBC Trust. Allen added: ‘A screen's a screen. I don't watch anything in real time myself. Everyone's hung up on these overnight ratings but the future is on-demand, pre-recorded.’

Kay will next be seen on his usual home of Channel 4 with Malarchy’s Millions, about a millionaire coach boss who trades his luxurious lifestyle to go undercover in a former mining town. The show, written by Jo Enright and Lorna Burke, will air this spring.

Published: 24 Mar 2013