'Bravest comedy in years'

Jasper Carrott and Meera Syal are to star in a sitcom about a couple who have a child with cerebral palsy.

BBC1 controller Lorraine Heggessey said she thought the show would be "one of the bravest comedies to appear on British TV for years".

The six-part show, which has not yet been titled, will be made by Celador Productions, co-owned by Carrott and the makers of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Heggessey told MediaGuardian.co.uk: "I went to one of the read-throughs last week and there are moments of tremendous poignancy and hilarity."

The handicapped child is played by TV newcomer Jamil Dhillon, a 12-year-old with cerebral palsy.

Writer Steve Knight, who was also one of the creators of Millionaire, told the Daily Telegraph: "Lots of families have children with disabilities but they are never seen on television. The question you have to ask is, 'Why not?' There's nothing wrong with having a disability."

Published: 4 Oct 2001