Coogan to star in new Craig Cash comedy

Steve Coogan is to play a gambling addict in a new comedy drama from The Royle Family's Craig Cash.

The three-part series - called Sunshine - will centre on Coogan's character Bing and his family. Cash and writing partner Phil Mealey have written the show and will appear in it along with Bernard Hill (Boys From The Black Stuff) and Lisa Millett (Blackpool).

Sunshine is described as "above all a heart-warming story about how when you reach rock bottom the only thing that matters are the people you love".

BBC comedy controller Lucy Lumsden said: "With the combined talents of Craig Cash, Phil Mealey and Steve Coogan, Sunshine is a significant comedy drama from the North for BBC1."

Filming has already begun and the series is expected to air in the autumn.