A NEW sitcom set on the Isle of Wight, starring Joe Wilkinson and Diane Morgan, is being produced for UKTV Gold.

The Cockfields will see a whole host of famous faces, including Wilkinson (of After Life), Morgan (Motherland), Sue Johnston (The Royle Family), Bobby Ball (Not Going Out), Nigel Havers (Murder on the Blackpool Express) and Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City).

It is written by David Earl and Joe Wilkinson.

Wilkinson stars as Simon, who is taking girlfriend Donna (Morgan) back home to the Isle of Wight for the first time, where they will spend a long weekend as guests of his ever-doting mother Sue (Johnston) and controlling stepdad Ray (Ball).

A spokesperson for UKTV said: "Simon has been persuaded to mark the occasion of his 40th birthday back at the Cockfield family home and there's a fair amount of Isle of Wight 'fun' in store for the pair of them, alongside interruptions from Simon's Alan Titchmarsh-obsessed stepbrother David and the Cockfields' oddball handyman neighbour Andre.

"If that wasn't enough, Simon's father Larry (Havers) and his new American girlfriend Melissa (Cattrall) are causing tensions to rise.

"Can Simon survive a long (very long) birthday weekend with his biological and extended family without losing his cool — or his girlfriend?"

Joe Wilkinson said: "David and I adore writing about this oddball family who, despite their faults and differences, love each other.

"We can't wait to see our dream cast bring The Cockfields to life."

David Earl said: "I've had to endure many months staring at Joe Wilkinson's face over Skype whilst writing the scripts — he usually has food in his beard — so, after all that, I hope everyone likes the show."

The Cockfields is directed by Steve Bendelack (Little Britain, Friday Night Dinner).

The three-part series, produced by Yellow Door Productions, will air on Gold later this year.