Lucas could join 'Hood' as Friar Tuck

BBC bosses want Matt Lucas to play Friar Tuck in future series of the revived Robin Hood, according to a report.

The character - and one of the most distinctive of the Merry Men in past incarnations - was left out of the current BBC One version, with producers saying he was too much of a "laughing stock".

However, channel controller Peter Fincham has now apparently suggested the Friar could return - and has picked the Little Britain star as his prefered actor.

"The series wants to evolve and he is a great character," commented Fincham, reports the Daily Mail. "If Matt Lucas said he'd play him I would be very happy. I did mention it to Matt and he said he would love to do that."

The paper added that no official approach had been made to Lucas.