'Rab C Nesbitt' to return on BBC Two

[Luna]

Rab C Nesbitt is to return for a one-off special as part of a new raft of comedy commissions for BBC Two.

The special will be the first new episode of the long-running sitcom in a decade, with Gregor Fisher and Elaine Smith both reprising their roles.

The channel has also confirmed commissions for Simon Nye's In My Country, which stars Omid Djalili as an Iranian immigrant staying at a guest house with other immigrants, including a Nigerian migrant played by Stephen K. Amos, and Miranda Hart's Joke Shop, starring comedy actress Miranda Hart in a "farcical, affectionate and thoroughly modern comedy about being the odd one out".

Lucy Lumsden, controller of comedy commissioning at the BBC, said: "The return of a great character such as Rab C Nesbitt, along with two new audience sitcoms, reflects the wide range of diverse, distinctive, quality comedy BBC Two continues to offer viewers."

[Chloe O'brien]

It will be brilliant to see Rab, Marydoll and Jamesy Cotter back.

[Perdita]

Rab C. Nesbitt is to return for a new series, it has been confirmed.

The BBC announced that six new episodes are to be made following the success of the Christmas special last year.

The festive one-off - which drew an audience of 3.5m in the UK - saw Nesbitt quit alcohol and find religion.

An insider said Gregor Fisher, who plays Rab, would definitely return, and hinted that writer Ian Pattinson has "lots to write about".

"In the Christmas special, he showed us where Rab was and how he could have lost Mary for ever. But now they are back together, anything could happen," he added. "And with the world as it is today, Ian should have lots for Rab to take offence at."

The show ran for eight series before bowing out in 1999.