The BBC has confirmed today that Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer's cult BBC Two panel show Shooting Stars has been recommisioned following a successful return to the channel last year after a seven-year break.

Hosted by Vic and Bob, the off-the-wall panel show that introduced viewers to the Dove From Above, catch-phrase Uvavu, and many surreal games will start filming later this spring. Ulrika Jonsson will be back as head of Team A and, following his successful debut as team captain last year, Jack Dee will return as the new head of Team B. Also returning as part of the new Shooting Stars line-up is oddball burger van owner, and regular guest, Angelos Epithemiou (played by Renton Skinner).

However, Matt Lucas, who has played George Daws, the man with the scores, since the show's inception in 1993 will not return. The Little Britain star is working on a new show with David Walliams and filming schedules conflict.

Lucas says: "Unfortunately, because I'm busy writing a new series for the BBC with David, I won't be able to be in Shooting Stars this time. It's the first time in six series that I can't be in it, and I'm obviously sad. I love being on the show and love working with Vic and Bob and the whole team but I just couldn't fit everything in this time, because we'll be right in the middle of rehearsals and rewrites. Of course I'll be watching, and I hope we can all do something together again soon."

Bob Mortimer said: "We are really looking forward to the new series. We remain determined to try and cheer Jack up, we can't wait to see what Ulrika's going to look like once the surgeon has finally finished tinkering with her and we both hope Angelos is just going to turn up on time."

Shooting Stars was one of TV's first celebrity panel shows and was piloted on BBC Two in December 1993. It went on to run for five series, becoming a multi-award-winning, worldwide hit, in the process. It ended in December 2002, but was resurrected in 2008 for a reunuion special which picked up 3.2 million viewers, prompting the BBC to bring the show back for a full series in 2009. Series 7 will be shown later in the year.