New BBC sitcom to star Neil Morrissey as a gay dad

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A new BBC3 sitcom will star Men Behaving Badly actor Neil Morrissey as a gay man.

Morrissey will play former sperm donor Brian, who is shocked when one of his offspring tracks him down and tries to blackmail him into being a proper father.

The show, titled The Inn Mates, is set in a pub and features Joe Tracini, the son of comedian Joe Pasquale, as Brian’s unexpected son.

Other cast members include ex-Coronation street stars Johnny Dixon and Poppy Jhakra and This Is England actor Andrew Ellis.

Written by comedian and former journalist John Warbuton, the show is a return to comedy for Morrissey, who has not appeared in a comedy TV role for five years.

Warbuton told the Manchester Evening News: “Getting Neil was a brilliant coup. He’s a fantastic comedy actor and it was a pleasure to work with him.”

He added: “I grew up in a pub and wanted to write a pub sitcom. I loved the regulars who came in each day with news of the problems, complications or victories that defined their lives.”

The show’s pilot episode will be screened on BBC3 on Monday at 9pm and Warbuton hopes that a good reception will win it a series.

Last month, gay charity Stonewall named the BBC the worst broadcaster for on-screen portrayals of gay people.

Over the last two years, the BBC has been repeatedly criticised for its approach to LGBT issues.

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