Listeners to Graham Norton's Radio 2 show will know he's been spending many of his afternoons recently writing a book, and now some details about what it'll be about have been revealed.

Although no title has yet been announced, the book has been described as a "darkly funny" fiction novel.

Set in "a small town with big secrets", the darkly comic story will focus around "a grim discovery on a building site" which reveals the town to have "a much darker, hungrier undertow" than might at first be apparent.

Characters created by Norton include "a cast down policeman; a beautiful and mysterious family of three spinster sisters, each with their own secrets and sorrows; and the town's gossip."

Norton himself says: "Like so many other people I've always wanted to write a novel and I'm both proud and shocked that I have finally done it. It's a mixture of mystery and romance set in a part of the world I love.

"When I read, I like a book that is driven by the plot and I hope that is what I've done in my own novel. It is very nerve wracking to finally be handing my story over to the world but I can truthfully say I have loved the time I have spent with these characters so now I just hope that readers do as well."

Speaking on his radio show on Saturday, Norton provided listeners with an update, saying: "I'm very nearly finished. I'm not finished... but I am getting there."

Hannah Black from publisher Hodder comments: "I'm thrilled to be publishing Graham's first novel and to be launching what we believe will be a major new career for him as a novelist. This is a darkly funny book, Graham is a skilled storyteller, the writing impressively broad and layered. He knows this world and he understands people, their secret passions, and motivations, and that is in part what helps to make this such an accomplished and compelling debut."

The book will be released later in the year. In the meantime Norton will be back on TV screens as The Graham Norton Show starts its 19th series on Friday.