Gemma Arterton has been named as the lead in a new Sky adaptation of Nick Hornby's best-selling novel Funny Girl.
In the comedy series, which is set in the 1960s, the former Bond girl will play Barbara Parker, a Blackpool beauty queen who travels to London and lands a part in a ground-breaking new sitcom which goes on to define British comedy for a generation.
"It's a heart-warming story of an ambitious woman with a dream of making people laugh – it's going to be something special," said Arteton, who will also serve as executive producer.
"It's an honour to be working with such an incredible team and be reunited with my first ever director, Oliver Parker."
News of the series comes after Sky announced a family crime thriller set in the 1980s as well as seven new factual commissions.
Follow us on Twitter @SMEntsFeed and like us on Facebook for the latest entertainment news alerts.
