A pilot episode for a new ITV sitcom is to be filmed shortly. Called "The Abbey" the comedy is clearly inspired by The Priory addiction clinics.

The episode has been written by and will star Morwenna Banks (Saxondale, Absolutely). She plays a faded rock star who runs the addiction centre while Marti Pellow (a real-life former heroin addict from the band Wet Wet Wet) plays her husband. Reece Shearsmith (League of Gentlemen) is the clinic's doctor; Liz Smith (Vicar of Dibley, Royle Family) is a geriatric sex addict patient and, if newspaper reports are to be believed, Russell Brand will play a clueless crack addict resident (so not too much acting needed there then).