Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse could be reunited for a new BBC One comedy series.

The station’s controller, Peter Fincham, says he has begun talks with the pair about a new series as part of his drive to reinvigorate the channel’s comedy output.

Enfield and Whitehouse, who met while at university, starred together in two series of Harry Enfield And Chums on BBC One in the Nineties, following the success of their BBC Two show. But while Whitehouse went on to create The Fast Show, Enfield’s Brand Spanking New Show was less warmly received.

Fincham, who has identified comedy as a main failing for BBC One, told the Guardian he was ‘excited’ by the prospect of bringing the pair back.

He also said he had ordered a new sitcom pilot featuring Only Fools and Horses star Nicholas Lyndhurst.

Fincham has previously announced new sitcoms from Lee Mack and Jennifer Saunders, and pilot editions of sketch shows featuring Ronni Ancona, Armstrong and Miller and Omid Djalili.

He said: ‘There is no shortcut, you've got to make pilots, invest in talent and keep your nerve. Comedies can be fragile things to start but can last the longest and resonate the longest.’