Sketch troupe Cowards have landed a three-part series for BBC Four – after BBC Three decided not to commission them.

The four-man group were signed up by BBC Three early last year, and produced a number of sketches for its website.

And last summer Tim Key, Tom Basden, Stefan Golaszewski and Lloyd Woolf were asked to make a full pilot episode for broadcast.

But after the channel relaunched with more emphasis on youth programming, there was no room for Cowards in the schedules.

However, the BBC’s executive comedy editor Cheryl Taylor has now ordered three half-hour episodes for the more upmarket BBC Four, trade magazine Broadcast reports.

The show, which will feature sketches, spoofs and animation, will be made by independent production house Angel Eye. Filming begins next month and it will air later this year.