BBC Three launches winter schedule

BBC Three is launching its first broadband-only comedy show as part of its winter season.

The Cowards features a four-man, hyper-real comedy act, who will take over the BBC Three website and build their own comedy world.

New shows on the main channel include Gavin and Stacey, about love across two nations. The show is written by and stars Fat Friends actors Ruth Jones and James Corden alongside Alison Steadman and Rob Brydon.

Based on his acclaimed novel The Burglar Diaries, sitcom Thieves Like Us is written by Danny King and will give a comic glimpse into petty crime. Staying with crime, Smalltime stars John Henshaw, Steve Edge and Corrie's Naomi Radcliffe in a sitcom about a low-security prison visiting room.

Bafta-winning Karen Taylor gets her own sketch show, Touch Me, I'm Karen Taylor, with other sketch shows Rush Hour and Comedy Shuffle With Rob Rouse showcasing new talent.

Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive, Ideal starring Johnny Vegas and Ash Atalla's sketch show Man Stroke Woman also return to BBC Three.

Controller of BBC Three, Julian Bellamy, said: "BBC Three is firing on all cylinders this Winter/Spring with a huge range of home-grown programmes - not seen anywhere else in the digital world - and giving our younger audience an incredibly rich and diverse mix."

Other factual highlights include Last Man Standing which sees six Westerners living with indigenous peoples and taking part in their rites and rituals. Meat, presented by Richard Johnson, looks at where our food comes from, and Fergus Drennan tries to encourage viewers to forage and eat road kill for food in Road Kill Café.

Sex Talk With Mum And Dad has Dutch sexologist Maria Schopman helping teenagers talk to their parents about sex, plus Three will show another series of programmes about body image including Fat Boy To Slim, Teens Addicted To Porn and a programme about Britain's youngest transsexual.

Bellamy said: "Autumn's Body Image Season performed brilliantly, giving us our highest-ever weekly reach, so I'm delighted to be bringing not one but two seasons to the channel for Winter/Spring, both of which are filled with contemporary issues that touch the lives of our audience."

The channel is also showcasing extended coverage of BBC One and BBC Two shows Castaway, The Verdict and Comic Relief Does Fame Academy.