Josh Widdicombe is to present a new series for Comedy Central mocking adverts from around the world.

Twenty half-hour episodes have been ordered of The Funniest Adverts On The Planet, set to air later this year, featuring commercials by Hollywood stars such as Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman and Larry David.

Widdicombe's voiceover is written by his regular collaborators Matthew Crosby and Tom Craine. The three comics created the panel show Hypothetical for Dave, which Widdicombe fronts with James Acaster.

The Last Leg presenter, who will perform at this year's Royal Variety Performance and has just published a nostalgic memoir, Watching Neighbours Twice A Day ... How 90s TV (Almost) Prepared Me For Life, infamously got Greg Davies' name tattooed onto his foot for Taskmaster. And he featured in a 2018 television advert, Shameful Tattoo, promoting Churchill's vandalism insurance cover, voicing a graffittied upon car.

By archly commenting upon commercials, Widdicombe is not the only comic currently following in a tradition established by the likes of Clive James and Jasper Carrott. Tom Allen's four-part documentary Ad Man is coming to Channel 4 soon.

Widdicombe is not the only comic currently following in an established tradition by the likes of Clive James and Jasper Carrott by archly commenting upon commercials. Tom Allen's four-part documentary Ad Man is coming to Channel 4 soon.

The Funniest Adverts On The Planet is produced by Chris Curley (Room 101, Ask Rhod Gilbert) for Viacom International Studios UK. Executive produced by Ed Hall, the edit producers are Adam McLean, Anna Coane and Dan Whitehead.

Last week it was revealed on Who Do You Think You Are? that Widdicombe is descended from Henry VIII, Edward I and the Earl of Holland, an adviser to King Charles I, whose role as "groom of the stool" was to accompany the monarch to the toilet at all times.