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Peter Kay to star in new sitcom


Peter Kay is to star in a new sitcom.

The ‘Phoenix Nights’ star has been signed up to take on the role of Danny Baker’s wide-boy dad in ‘Cradle to Grave’, a series dubbed the new ‘Only Fools and Horses’.

The eight-part BBC Two comedy is based on legendary broadcaster Baker’s memories of growing up in a council flat in Bermondsey, south London, in the 70s – which he describes as being similar to the life portrayed in the original sitcom starring Sir David Jason as Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter.

A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper that Peter’s character – wheeler-dealer Fred – is that of a "real -life Del Boy".

The sitcom is also based on Baker’s autobiography ‘Going to Sea in a Sieve’, which tells the story of how dock worker and union leader Fred was on a mission to beat the "system".

Baker wrote: "When ‘Only Fools and Horses’ arrived on TV, most people I knew though it was a documentary."

‘Cradle to Grave’ has been written by Baker himself and TV producer and screenwriter Jeff Pope, who has penned the scripts for dramas including ‘Cilla’, ‘Mrs. Biggs’ and the film ‘Philomena’.

Meanwhile, 41-year-old Peter is also making his TV comeback elsewhere, appearing in BBC One comedy ‘Car Share’ and bringing back his hit series ‘Phoenix Nights’ next year for Comic Relief.