Martin Clunes has confirmed he’s joined the cast of new comedy ‘Vehicle Warren’.
The ‘Doc Martin’ star – known for portraying ill-mannered surgery owner Dr. Martin Ellingham since 2004 – will once again take on a titular role as dogmatic driving instructor, Warren, in the new sitcom with screenplay by Paul McKenna and Jimmy Donny Cosgrove.
Ironically, Clunes – who starred in the ‘Reggie Perrin’ remake seven years ago – was slapped with a six-month driving ban back in 2012 after he racked up 12 points for speeding offences.
The new series will follow the hapless individual as he’s forced to move from the South of England to Preston in the North, after his partner Anne’s father falls ill.
Warren ends up living in an area he doesn’t like, doing a mundane job and looking after two teenage stepsons.
The 56-year-old actor’s new role will come as a surprise to many fans, as he previously admitted he didn’t want to be part of another sitcom, but he couldn’t resist production company Hat Trick’s enticing script.
Of his new gig, Clunes said: "I had kind of told myself that I didn’t want to do another sitcom, but because this came from Hat Trick I thought it was worth a read and the script is just so funny that I didn’t want anyone else to do it."
Jimmy Mulville, Managing Director at Hat Trick Productions commented: "Great scripts attract great actors and this was the case with Warren. Martin plays the central role to perfection and is supported by a fantastic cast. We can’t wait to make it."
And Shane Allen, Controller Comedy Commissioning at the BBC added: "BBC One mainstream comedy is our highest priority and the toughest nut to crack. We have enormous faith in Warren as the pilot displayed the perfect alchemy of well-drawn characters, punchy funny lines, a terrific ensemble cast and in Martin Clunes a heavyweight comedy champion who we’re delighted to see step back in to the ring of a BBC One sitcom."
Further casting and transmission details will be announced in due course.
Martin Clunes stars in the comedy Vehicle Warren
