British comedy favourites star in first look at new show based on beloved Eric Morecambe novels - on what would have been his 100th birthday

The BBC has unveiled new images (above and below) and a clip for its upcoming comedy The Reluctant Vampire, which features a starry cast including BAFTA winner Lenny Rush.

The coming-of-age sitcom, which is based on the books by comedy legend Eric Morecambe and written by Rob and Neil Gibbons (Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa), stars Rush as Val, a young vampire who finds out that he is not, in fact, a vampire at all, and starts living a double life.

The series follows Val as he grapples with his newly discovered human side, while also dealing with high expectations from his tradition obsessed vampire dad Victor’s (played by Tom Davis) high expectations.

The new clip, which has been released on what would have been the 100th birthday of Morecambe, features a brief introduction from Rush, before we’re given a glimpse at the actor in character as he attempts to sneak out of a window and interacts with two gargoyles (played by Ross Noble and Bill Bailey).

You can watch the clip for yourself below:

Gary Morecambe, Eric’s son, recently told Radio Times magazine that the new series stays true to its source material.

Speaking about the show, he said: "We’ve got the wonderful Lenny Rush starring in it, and the Gibbons brothers, Neil and Rob, who’ve done a lot of Alan Partridge, came in and wrote their own scripts but they did it without ‘losing Eric’ – which is a fantastic achievement."

Other comedy favourites set to appear in the series include Extra Geography’s Gabriel Nagy, who plays Val's brother, Vernon, and Fleabag’s Sian Clifford, who stars as Val's mother, Valeeta.

Joe Wilkinson (After Life) is also set to appear as Wilf the Werewolf, while Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing) stars as Igon, the assistant to the Vampire household.

Rounding out the cast is Charlie Cooper (This Country) as villager John, Esther Smith (Trying) as his wife Susan, and Ellie-May Sheridan (Dodger) as their daughter, Gertie.

Meanwhile, behind the camera, Shane Allen is executive producing, while Ali Marlow serves as producer and Emily McDonald as director.

The Reluctant Vampire will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One later this year.

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