Christmas comedy-drama

John Bishop is to star in a Christmas comedy-drama for ITV, based around a pantomime.

The comic also co-wrote the script of Panto! with Jonathan Harvey who wrote the sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme.

The comedy will also star Sheridan Smith, Samantha Spiro, Mark Benton – and Eighties one-hit wonder Chesney Hawkes.

Bishop said: ‘In 2006 I left my job; that Christmas I appeared in a local panto. It was there I fell in love with that world and came up with the idea of a comedy drama, which has now evolved into Panto!

‘To be making this six years later for ITV1 is really very exciting. The script I’ve written with Jonathan Harvey is something I’m immensely proud of, and the cast are all brilliant.’

The show is a co-production between Baby Cow and Bishop’s own company Lola Entertainment.

Unsurprisingly, Panto! will be shown over Christmas.

Here’s a clip of Bishop talking about his first panto, in which he played Herman The Henchman, on the BBC One show John Bishop’s Britain:

Published: 12 Nov 2012