Classic sitcom Are You Being Served? is due to return to British screens after more than 30 years.
The one-off special is set in 1988 and picks up where the comedy last left off, following the misadventures of the retail staff in fictional London department store Grace Brothers.
It is due to be filmed next month in front of a studio audience at Media City, Salford, before airing on BBC One later in the year.
BBC comedy Are You Being Served? (PA)
Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft’s original comedy first aired in 1972 on BBC One, and ran for more than 10 years.
The new special will be written by Derren Litten, who is known for his work on Benidorm and The Catherine Tate Show.
“Writing a new episode of Are You Being Served? has been the most fun I have ever had as a professional writer. We have an amazing cast, a brilliant producer and a great director,” Derren said.
John Inman. who played Mr Humphries, in 1977 (PA)
“It was just too exciting an opportunity to pass up,” he added.
The special follows young Mr Grace (Mathew Horne) as he tries to modernise Grace Brothers but faces problems with Mr Humphries (Jason Watkins), Captain Peacock (John Challis) and Mrs Slocombe (Sherrie Hewson).
As well as the old favourites, there are some new additions to the cast, including Jorgie Porter as Miss Croft, and Kayode Ewumi as Mr Conway.
Jorgie Porter will join Are You Being Served? (Ian West/PA)
Are You Being Served? will be directed by Dewi Humphreys and produced by James Farrell.
Shane Allen, who commissioned the show, said: “The Are you Being Served? special is a riot of a script from Derren and has attracted a real comedy pedigree cast to pay homage to this glorious and much-loved show.”
It was commissioned as part of the BBC’s “landmark comedy season”, designed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the television sitcom format.
