iPlayer to show Peter Kay sitcom before traditional BBC channel

The BBC has announced that its video-on-demand platform iPlayer will be showing a Peter Kay sitcom before it goes out via traditional linear broadcast.

The entire series – made up of six 30 minute episodes – will be shown on iPlayer first, in which Kay will play a supermarket worker forced to spend his commute with a colleague as part of a company car-share scheme.

Car Share (the title of the sitcom) will become part of a new trial by the BBC in which 40 hours of programming will be made available on iPlayer before BBC TV.

The BBC previously trialled an online-only scheme in 2012, which included an exclusive web series of Doctor Who, and Amazon has recently announced that it will be showing a range of online-only pilots via LoveFilm in a bid to rival TV broadcasters.

BBC One controller Danny Cohen said: “It is hugely exciting that Peter Kay is coming to BBC One with his new series – even more so with the innovative plan we have to launch the show online.”