BBC Three is to air Australian high school comedy series Summer Heights High.

The "mockumentary-style" show follows the lives of schoolchildren Jonah Takalua and Ja'mie King, and teacher Mr. G, over the course of a school term.

Summer Heights has won awards in Australia and, according to BBC Three, its fans include Perez Hilton, Kylie Minogue and Nicole Kidman. It is written by comedian Chris Lilley, who also plays Takalua, and is described as "shocking, absurd and often dark".

Lucy Lumsden, controller of BBC comedy commissioning, said: "Summer Heights High is a fantastic addition to the BBC Three comedy lineup for 2008 – with a truly brilliant central performance from Chris Lilley."