James Cordon, who plays Smithy in the multi-award winning sitcom Gavin and Stacey, has been given the starring role in a new BBC Two sitcom pilot.

Hey Hey We're the Monks stars Cordon as Gary Woodcroft, a 31-year-old layabout who is given a position in a monastery. The BBC has said the show is: "Father Ted meets Men Behaving Badly – with a cheeky Black Books chaser". They add: "Hey Hey We're the Monks is a classic British sitcom with great characters, free-flowing laughter on tap and a cracking ensemble cast."

The show will also star David Bamber (Rome), Fergus Craig (Comedy Shuffle), Justin Edwards (The Thick of It) and Geoffrey Whitehead (The Worst Week of My Life).

Tickets to the pilot are available now from BBC Tickets