'A clever take on multi-character comedy'

Paul Whitehouse has begun production on his new BBC Two show, Nurse.

Based on his Radio 4 comedy, the comedy involves Whitehouse playing multiple patients of Liz, a community psychiatric nurse played by Esther Coles.

Supporting roles come from Simon Day, Colin Hoult. Cecilia Noble, Rosie Cavaliero, Jason Maza, Vilma Hollingberry and Ben Bailey-Smith (aka Doc Brown).

Whitehouse – who wrote the scripts with David Cummings,a previous collaborator on The Fast Show, Down The Line and Happiness – said: 'Nurse is a project close to my heart, it’s an opportunity to explore issues and characters at a deeper level, while trying to find humour and hope in difficult situations.

BBC comedy controller Shane Allen added: 'Nurse has gone down very successfully on radio and we are very excited about the TV version. Nurse gives a sympathetic insight into the world of some of society’s marginalised people.

'Paul is the leading character comedian of his generation and he has the ability to make you cry with laughter one minute and cry with empathy the next with the characters that he brings to life. There is warmth, truth and depth to Paul’s comedy and Esther Coles is a very funny, warm actress who will bring real tenderness, pathos and humour to the show.

'It’s a clever take on a multi-character comedy show, away from the sketch world, into something more heartfelt and considered.

Four 30-minute episodes, made in-house at the BBC, will air later in the year.

Published: 10 Jul 2014