Vic Reeves creator will be joined by his wife Nancy

Vic Reeves creator Jim Moir is to front a new Sky Arts series about his passion for watching and painting birds. 

The six-part series will air next year and follow artist Jim and his wife Nancy as they explore some of Britain’s best beauty spots, joined along the way by a few famous friends.

Jim Moir said the show ‘incorporates my two main passions, art and birds, and to be presenting it with my best friend and wife (one person) is an undiluted joy and delight’

And Nancy added: ‘I’ve been birdwatching for the past ten years and it’s become a huge passion of mine so I’m looking forward to starting filming with Jim.’

The news comes as Jim’s book Birds: Paintings of 100 British Birds is published next week by Unbound, featuring a foreword by Chris Packham.

Producers will be hoping the show emulates just some of the success of his double-act partners’ BBC Two series, Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing

With the working title Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir each episode will feature local twitchers, artists and conservation experts. 

Phil Edgar-Jones, director of Sky Arts,  said: ‘Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir is just the kind of tweet we like at Sky Arts, combining the joy of great art courtesy of Jim’s beautiful bird paintings and the glories of the British countryside and wildlife. 

‘We know our audiences love to uncover the processes that bring art to life and Jim will be unpacking the craft in his own unique way.’

The series, produced by Drum Studios, goes into production next month.

Made by: Drum Studios
Executive producers: Danny Carvalho and Sadia Butt
Commissioned by: Phil Edgar-Jones, director of Sky Arts and entertainment for Zai Bennett, managing director of content for Sky UK and Ireland
Commissioning editor: Barbara Lee

Published: 26 Aug 2022