Johnny Vegas pilot picked up for BBC One

The BBC has commissioned a full series of Johnny Vegas comedy Home From Home.

It becomes the fourth pilot from this summer’s Landmark Sitcom season to be picked up for a full run, following the revived Porridge; Sharon Horgan and Graham Linehan’s Motherland and Tim Renkow’s A Brief History Of Tim.

All the cast of Home From Home's pilot are expected to return for the series, which will go into production next year for a broadcast slot on BBC One.

Vegas starred alongside Gavin & Stacey’s Joanna Page as a working-class couple who scrimped and save to buy a lodge in the Lake District, which turned out to be next door to the more well-to-do Dillons, played by Adam James  (Doctor Foster) and Emilia Fox (Silent Witness)

Vegas said: ‘We all felt we were on to something very special while making the pilot and were rewarded with some wonderful feedback following its broadcast. 

‘We have so much more to explore with these characters and relish the opportunity to share where they go from here. The opportunity to work closely with Home from Home's creators, fellow cast members and producer Rebecca Papworth is one I'm chuffed to have. We are absolutely chomping at the bit.’

Shane Allen, the BBC’s controller of comedy commissioning, added: ‘It is terrific to have another series spring from our recent sitcom season. 

‘Featuring a knockout cast; rich comedy themes - the northern family versus the southern one; plus those on their way up the class ladder alongside those on their way down. There is something for everyone to relate to and it has a big heart making it the perfect fit for BBC One. 

‘We need cheering up now more than ever and it's about time Johnny Vegas was front and centre of a broad appeal sitcom.’

The series will be written by Chris Fewtrell and Simon Crowther and produced by Rebecca Papworth for BBC Studios.

Here is our review of the pilot.

Published: 7 Dec 2016