Third series for Greg Davies's BBC Three comedy

Cuckoo is to return for a third series, the BBC has announced.

The seven new episodes will reunite Twilight star Taylor Lautner with Greg Davies and Helen Baxendale.

The series is set six months after the departure of Lautner’s character Dale, as Ken (Davies) and Lorna (Baxendale) are preparing for the birth of their new baby, and Dylan (Tyger Drew Honey) flies the nest for university. Esther Smith’s Rachel is heartbroken – until a transformed Dale returns.

Shane Allen, controller of BBC comedy commissioning, said: ‘Cuckoo is the quintessential BBC Three series – a grabby concept, world class talent and writers destined for greatness. Can’t wait to see what new heights of comedic excruciation they concoct for Ken.’

Dan Hine, head of comedy at producers Roughcut TV, added: ‘We hope audiences will enjoy seeing Davies and Lautner - TV’s unlikeliest comedy duo - return as men reinvented.’

Lautner replaced Lonely Island star Andy Samberg as the American lead after Cuckoo’s first series, after he signed up to star in US police sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

The BBC Three series is written by Robin French and Kieron Quirke and produced by Hine, Emma Lawson and Ash Atalla. Directing of the new series is being taken over by Trollied and Doctor Who’s Paul Murphy.

-by Jay Richardson

Published: 15 May 2015