And Comedy Showcases will be online first

Comedy character Mrs Barbara Nice has landed a Radio 2 pilot.

The news comes at it was announced that the BBC will be putting the five Comedy Showcase episodes online before their traditional broadcast.

The creation of Phoenix Nights Janice Connolly, the 'Stockport housewife superstar' is a familiar face on the circuit.

In the 'warm-hearted' sitcom pilot she will star alongside John Henshaw, playing her husband Ken Nice.

According to the BBC, the plot revolves around Barbara's fears the couple may split up as 'they have nothing in common; Ken's idea of retirement involves a marathon session of Pointless and that doesn't fit with Barbara's idea of a well spent golden age.'

The pilot also stars David Sant as a homeless Spanish busker who Barbara tries to help.

Barbara Nice is one of five standalone pieces in the Comedy Showcase series. The first will be available online and on the iPlayer app from Monday November 9, and airing seven days later.

Other shows previously announced on Chortle are:

The Kings' Men, about the early days of the British Secret Service in the Great War. Starring Robert Webb and written by Arthur Mathews – co-creator of Father Ted, Toast of London – with Terry Mynott, of The Mimic. Minot also co-stars alongside Nick Mohammed, Ellie White, Ophelia Lovibond and Katy Wix

Ankle Tag: In which Elis James plays a new father whose dad Bob, suddenly comes back into his life after being released from prison on licence during his sentence for fraud. The show also co-stars Wix and has been written by Gareth Gwynn and Ben Partridge.

The Peterford Golf Club, starring Simon Farnaby and promising to 'do for golf clubs what Green Wing did for hospitals'. The cast

The final show is a 'chat show with a twist', but no further details are available.

Helen Boaden, director of BBC Radio, says: 'I'm delighted that we are developing new ways of listening that can bring our unique and brilliant speech content to an even wider audience.

'Live radio is still how the vast majority of us listen but innovations like this give audiences more choice, control and convenience in how they get the radio they love'.

Other programmes going online first include Tadio 4's daily drama Home Front; a new 10-part Radio 4 series Peter Snow Returns To The Future and 6 Music's Paperback Writers.

Published: 13 Oct 2015