Action-comedy series ordered

Daniel Rigby is to star in the first original sitcom commissioned by the Dave channel.

Undercover is an action comedy about a hapless police officer on a covert operation to infiltrate an Armenian crime family.

Rigby, who won a Bafta for his performance as Eric Morecambe in the biopic Eric and Ernie, plays the neurotic central character who finds himself attracted to both the femme fatale of the Sarkissian family and his police handler. They are played by Yasmine Akram, last seen in Sherlock, and Sarah Alexander, from Green Wing and Coupling, respectively.

Keith Allen, stand-up Brett Goldstein, Plebs star Ryan Sampson and Michael Socha from Being Human also have roles.

Undercover was created by Andy Milligan, who has previously written on The Rob Brydon Show and various reality shows, and Sacha Alexander, who will also appear in the show.

Six episodes have been commissioned to air on Dave next year, following an earlier non-broadcast pilot. It is being made by independent company Baby Cow, whose credits include The Trip, Moone Boy and Gavin & Stacey, alongside Milligan and Alexander’s company Bonafide Films.

Executive producer Henry Normal said: ‘It’s sort of Donnie Brasco as a comedy. Full of tension and jeopardy.’

Undercover is the first completely original sitcom to be commissioned by Dave, although they previously revived Red Dwarf. It has since ordered such comedy series as Dave Gorman’s Modern Life is Goodish, Ross Noble Freewheeling and Crackanory.

Steve North, Dave’s general manager said: ‘We are excited to be extending our comedy remit on Dave by welcoming some of Britain’s best comedy actors and writing talent.’

Published: 18 Sep 2014