The BBC has signed up some of Britain's leading black comedy actors for a new late-night sitcom.

The Crouches forms part of the £220million autumn line-up on BBC1, and promises "an intimate, yet humorous, view of the trials and tribulations of a family living in south-east London".

It stars Robbie Gee and Jo Martin as childhood sweethearts who have been married for 18 years and the parents of two demanding teenagers.

The cast also includes Danny John-Jules from Red Dwarf, Rising Damp's Don Warrington and EastEnders regular Rudolph Walker.

The show has been written by Ian Pattison, best known as the creator of Rab C Nesbit.

Other comedies in BBC1's new season, which was announced today, include Paul O'Grady in Eyes Down (feature), and the return of Absolutely Fabulous, Have I Got News For You and They Think It's All Over.

But mainly the emphasis is on history programming, with a number of high-profile shows about Pompeii, the Roman Colosseum, Queen Victoria, Charles II and Oliver Cromwell.