Fergus Craig has signed a deal to publish his first novel, a spoof thriller featuring his parodic creation Detective Roger LeCarre.

Once Upon A Crime will introduce the maverick Exeter-based detective at the heart of the character comic's hit Twitter videos, which send up clichéd, overly dramatic police procedural fiction.

The book will be published on 19th October by Sphere, who recently released Richard Herring's The Problem With Men and is publishing Tez Ilyas's The Secret Diary Of A British Muslim Aged 13¾ in April.

The tough but troubled, heavy drinking and unhappily married LeCarre is on a quest to rid the world of crime - starting with Devon and Cornwall and then working outwards - so he can concentrate on his watercolours.

He runs 10km a day but probably burns more calories shaking his head at what has become of his city. Now Exeter is set to become the UK Capital of Culture and the ambitious Lord Mayor wants to turn things around. But when a young man's (dead) body is found in the centre of town, things get murky.

Can he find out who killed the young man, save the city and change his energy provider before the new more expensive tariff kicks in?

Announcing the book on social media, Craig confirmed that all the key characters from the videos would return: "Carrie, Beverley Chang, LeBron Jax, Donkey Malone - but their stories may not be what you're expecting. I'm starting the Roger LeCarre universe afresh."

The comic, whose writing credits include Cardinal Burns and The Kumars, and began his comedy career in a double-act with Colin Hoult, also posted a video of himself reading an extract from the book. Describing the parochial LeCarre meeting his new partner, the Tweet has already attracted more than 41,000 views:

Craig has previously published the satirical Tips For Actors in 2014, based on a Twitter account of the same name.