New series from League of Gentlemen writers – Daily TV round-up

A new series from the writers of 'The League Of Gentlemen' has been commissioned by BBC2.

Fresh comedy: Steve Pemberton and Reece Sheersmith are teaming up for a new series (Credit: Rex)

Steve Pemberton and Reece Sheersmith have penned the series, with the working title 'Inside No. 9',  and it's due to air late next year.

In the frame to star are former Bond girl Gemma Arterton, Tamsin Grieg and Timothy West.

The dark comedy and 'bizarre goings on' will take place in a series of different houses which have the same number in their address.

“We wanted to explore the sense of claustrophobia and intensity that is brought about by limiting the action to one location in each story,” said Pemberton and Sheersmith, who were also behind the 'Psychoville' series.

Among the other stars are Katherine Parkinson from 'The IT Crowd', Anne Reid from 'Dinnerladies', Anna Chancellor from 'The Hour' and Ben Willbond from 'The Thick Of It'.

The locations for the stories, which will include everything from a country manor to a primary school teacher's flat, will be where 'the ordinary and mundane rub shoulders with the extraordinary and macabre'. [The Guardian]

Also in today's press

Christopher Maloney has said that he's hurt by the lack of support from Simon Cowell, after learning he doesn't want him to win 'The X Factor'. The former cruise ship singer, who is now in the final three acts, said: “It does hurt a little bit if Simon’s saying, ‘Don’t let them vote for me.’ The general public; it’s their money and they can vote for who they like.” [The Sun]

Meanwhile, Cowell has said that he wouldn't be able to appear on both the UK and the US versions of 'The X Factor' because he wouldn't be able to mentor his acts effectively. A source told The Sun that 'Bruno and Len fly back and forth each week between LA and London on 'Strictly' - but they are just judges, they don't have to work with the contestants. Simon prides himself on being a good mentor and he just cannot see a way to juggle three acts in America and three acts in the UK'. [The Sun]

The FX channel has  been warned by Ofcom after an episode of 'American Dad' showed scenes of pre-watershed violence and sexual innuendo. Fox, who run the channel, have said that 'human error' caused the episode, which has a 15 rating, to be shown before 9pm. [Digital Spy]