Ballykissangel's Stephen Tompkinson is to direct a documentary and drama for BBC One.

The first of the daytime TV shows – the documentary – will look at the problems faced in making the second.

"I'm so pleased that Stephen has agreed to share with us his first, tentative steps into the art of directing," said jay Hunt, the BBC's daytime controller.

Tompkinson, whose other work includes comedy Drop the Dead Donkey, said he was "delighted" to be directing.

"I was thrilled to get the call - it has opened up a new direction for me," he explained. "It's going to be a real delight to come up with something special for the daytime audience which so appreciates drama on the BBC."