The BBC has today officially announced Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's new sitcom pilot, Life's Too Short.

The duo's new comedy for BBC Two is set to star actor Warwick Davis (pictured). Davis, who is 3ft 6in tall, is Britain's pre-eminent dwarf actor. His list of credits includes Star Wars, Harry Potter and The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.

The BBC describes the show as "an observation comedy which follows Warwick's day-to-day life in a small world where big things happen. It's a frustrating world, but an optimistic and warm one. This is a comedy where truth and big laughs sit side by side."

Gervais and Merchant, who shot to comedy fame after creating The Office and Extras, are currently working on the project. Gervais said: "We're having so much fun working with Warwick. Pound for pound he is one of the funniest men I know."

Warwick Davis met Gervais and Merchant in 2006 when he filmed a cameo in Extras. The episode, from Series 2 of the comedy, revolved around Gervais' character Andy Millman gaining a small bit part in a new fantasy film which starred Daniel Radcliffe and Davis (the actors played themselves). Andy ended up getting into a fight with Davis, accidently knocking him unconscious in the process.

Controller of BBC Two Janice Hadlow says: "I'm very excited to see the return of Ricky and Stephen to BBC Two, but also to welcome Warwick Davis, a great talent, to the channel. Experimenting with innovative, broad appeal comedy projects are an important part of BBC Two's plans for the future."

The pilot will be overseen by Charlie Hanson, who previously produced Extras with Gervais and Merchant, and has acted as Executive Producer on their new film, Cemetery Junction.

The BBC has been moved to announce this new pilot now, as Gervais has talked about the project in an interview for next week's Radio Times. He told the magazine, "It's about his life: the life of a showbiz dwarf. He plays himself, we play ourselves, it's sort of like Curb Your Enthusiasm."