Five much-loved BBC comedies are set to return for new series, it's been announced. The revivals include Bad Education, one of BBC Three’s most successful shows with 1.1 million viewers for series four.
The programme, which previously starred Jack Whitehall, returns for a fifth run. An air date for the six-part series has not yet been confirmed.
Romesh Ranganathan vehicle Avoidance is also back with a second series of six programmes. The rapper-comic brings the dysfunctional Nadar family back together in the show about living your life avoiding conflict, avoiding making decisions and avoiding the mess that causes.
Diane Morgan’s iconic character Mandy returns for a third six-part series and is once again written by, directed by and starring Morgan.
Diane Morgan says: “Bigger hair! Longer cigarettes! Mintier pig! Expect all this and more in the third epic season of Mandy. Now in 3D (where available) – you’ll believe you’re actually inside Mandy’s small back bedroom! Get your free goggles in the Radio Times.”
After an award-winning three-part pilot run last year, Peacock returns for a six-part series starring Allan ‘Seapa’ Mustafa (People Just Do Nothing, The Curse) as the eponymous Andy Peacock.
And Ellie & Natasia is back, starring Ellie White and Natasia Demetriou return in the second series of their critically-acclaimed sketch show. The first series landed Natasia Demetriou a nomination for Best Female Performance in a Comedy at this year’s BAFTAs.
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The returns were announced by the BBC Director of Comedy Jon Petrie at the BBC’s Comedy Festival in Cardiff. He also revealed five new series including Ludwig starring David Mitchell and written by Mark Brotherhood and Spent written by and starring Michelle de Swarte.
Jon said: “It’s no exaggeration to say that British Comedy is hugely important to television and the national cultural landscape. It is a public service and needed now more than ever.
"Not only do audiences consume comedy in huge numbers - there were over 500 million requests on BBC iPlayer last year – but it has also acted as a vital talent pipeline to some of the UK’s most successful creatives.
“The BBC remains the biggest single investor in original comedy content in the UK. We’re so proud of the depth and range of our offerings which champion British creativity and I’m delighted to announce five brand new shows and five much-loved returning series.”
Viewers can also look forward to Mammoth from writer and performer Mike Bubbins, Dinosaur created by Matilda Curtis and Ashley Storrie and Things You Should Have Done created and written by Lucia Keskin.
