Caryn Mandabach, the producer behind ground-breaking US hits including The Cosby Show, Roseanne, 3rd Rock from the Sun and That '70s Show, is creating a new family sitcom for the BBC.

Meet The Doyles is set to star Two Pints of Lager actor Will Mellor (pictured) and Niky Wardley (The Catherine Tate Show) as a thirty-something couple living in Manchester who are watching their kids grow up fast. There's not enough money and time for the couple to be the ideal parents they would like to be, but they keep trying. Veteran actor Warren Clarke, best known for his role in Dalziel & Pascoe, will play Will Mellor's dad in the show.

The American producer signed a development contract with the BBC in 2005, and this is the first sitcom for broadcast to emerge from the collaboration. At the time of signing the deal, Mandabach said that she has been a fan of British comedy for her whole career, and that she was "overjoyed to have the opportunity to work for such a legendary institution." BBC Executive Mark Freeland said: "The BBC is delighted to be in business with someone as uniquely dynamic and productive as Caryn. With her brilliant track record and nose for mainstream hits, we hope that she will complement all the work we already do with UK comedy talent."

Mandabach is working alongside British producer Jamie Glazebrook (The IT Crowd) to bring Meet The Doyles to screen. Dominic Brigstocke will direct the studio based comedy - his previous credits include The Armstrong & Miller Show and Green Wing.

Meet The Doyles is described as "a modern, fast-moving comedy". It is being filmed in front of a live audience at Teddington Studios in November, December and January, and will be broadcast later in 2011. If you would like to attend a recording see our free tickets page.

Ratings giant My Family, which has run for over 100 episodes, was produced in a similar manner. Fred Barron, the Executive Producer behind American sitcoms The Larry Sanders Show and Seinfeld, created My Family in 2000 using a team of writers, and the sitcom still running today (an 11th Series will be shown next year).