Alistair McGowan has landed his first starring role as a straight actor.
The impressionist will play wise-cracking detective Gil Mayo in a new series based on the crime novels of Marjorie Eccles.
The 40-year-old Big Impression star told the Mirror: ‘For the moment I feel we've gone as far as we can with the impressions show.
‘It's great to do something different and have a new challenge.
‘The character has a lot of wit. It's what attracted me. I feel we've been acting throughout the Big Impression so this doesn't feel a huge step.’
Shooting has started on the eight-episode series in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
It will be screened on BBC One in the spring.
