Jack Dee is to star in a new BBC comedy about a disillusioned, world-weary comedian.
The six-part series, 'Lead Balloon', has echoes of the US show 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and was devised by Dee.
Dee stars as the successful but disenchanted stand-up comedian Rick Spleen in the BBC4 show.
The fictional comic spends too much time hosting corporate events but the money from the gigs allows him to concentrate on his first love, making TV commercials.
The show features Rick, his wife Mel, played by Raquel Cassidy, a showbiz agent who looks after C-list celebrities, the couple's 17-year-old daughter Sam, the world's least motivated human being, played by Antonia Campbell-Hughes, and Magda, Rick's eastern European lodger and daily help.
BBC4 controller Janice Hadlow said: ''We are in the throes of commissioning what looks like a great series for us.
''It's not quite Jack Dee playing himself. His character is much less
successful than the real Jack.''
Dee, who co-wrote the show, went to the channel after coming up with the idea for the weekly comedy.
