To star Darren Boyd

Warren United will follow the adventures of an overweight, middle-aged kitchen salesman – to be played by Spy star Darren Boyd – who struggles to juggle his two passions: struggling Brainsford United and his family.

It has been written by Men Behaving Badly creator Simon Nye, Harry Hill's TV Burp writer David Quantick and stand-up Dominic Holland.

Morgana Robinson will voice Warren's sulky teenage daughter Charlie, Morwenna Banks his young son Harrison, and Eleanor Lawrence his Dutch wife Ingrid. Johnny Vegas also has a role as Fat Baz, the manager of Brainsford; while Nitin Ganatra plays Warren’ best friend Dilip

Warren United is being produced by Baby Cow Productions, whose co-founder Henry Normal said: ‘New animated narrative series in this country are so rare. So are comedies about football, while those about fans even rarer. On several counts, therefore, we're trying something unusual.’

ITV's Angela Jain added: ‘ITV4 fans love their football and, boasting a stellar cast, Warren United is aimed squarely at them. It is about the tricky balance of being a committed fan and a family man - which will strike a chord with many football followers.

‘The fact it's an animated comedy series about football makes it distinctive, and we're hoping viewers will take Warren, his family and his other love - Brainsford United - to their hearts.’

Warren United is the brainchild of executive producer, Bill Freedman, a football fan who has spent eight years bringing the show, his TV debut, to the screen. He was previously a key figure in West End theatre as a producer and theatre-owner.

The show, animated by Canadian company, Smiley Guy Studios and previously called The Wild World Of Warren, is expected to air in April, in the run-up to the World Cup.

Published: 24 Feb 2014