Going back to school as another teacher

Greg Davies is to star in his own Channel 4 sitcom.

The stand-up will also write the six-part series Man Down, in which he will play a childish teacher who hates his job.

It echoes his own life as a drama teacher before he turned to stand-up – as well as his role as head of sixth form Mr Gilbert in The Inbetweeners.

Channel 4 commissioned the full series following the success of a pilot shot this summer.

Davies’ character, Dan, is also described as having dysfunctional friends and a difficult father.

Nerys Evans, Channel 4’s acting head of comedy, said: ‘We are really delighted to work with Greg on a series of Man Down.

‘In it he has created a brilliantly observed world which is laugh-out-loud funny and a perfect fit for Channel 4 comedy. “It’s thrilling to have this exceptional comedian’s first solo project on the channel.

Davies said: ‘ promise that all of the characters will be humiliated at every turn, regularly physically attacked and at some point fully naked in every episode.’

The series will be made by Avalon Television and directed by directed by Matt Lipsey, who has previously worked on Psychoville and Saxondale.

It is the second recent comedy to feature a disillusioned teacher, following Jack Whitehall’s BBC Three series Bad Education.

Published: 1 Nov 2012