Barry Humphries, the Australian comedian behind Dame Edna Everage, is returning to UK TV with a role in a comedy set during the first world war.
Humphries will play a headmaster who takes a dim view of three young men who remain in England rather than fight on the western front in the Sky1 sitcom Chickens. The three leads are played by The Inbetweeners stars Simon Bird and Joe Thomas, and Jonny Sweet. The trio also share writing duties.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for three of the funniest and most talented men in the northern hemisphere to work with me. I am very proud of my young supporting cast, whose names I cannot remember at the moment," Humphries said.
Sally Phillips, whose credits include Smack the Pony and Miranda, has also signed up to guest star in Chickens.
Bird, Sweet and Thomas met at university and took a show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2007 and 2008. They originally made Chickens as a pilot show on Channel 4 in 2011. However, after the broadcaster opted not to pursue the project, Sky stepped in and the first series is scheduled to air in the autumn.
