Peter Kay series will be first ever to run in full on iPlayer

The BBC is due to debut a new Peter Kay comedy series on the iPlayer before it broadcasts on TV, as part of its original content commitment to its online service. It will be the first time a series will have been made available in full on iPlayer before its linear transmission.

The announcement marks the first high-profile online commission since the BBC announced in February that it will launch 40 hours of content on its catch-up service in the next year before it airs on linear TV.

Car Share will air in its 6x30mins entirety online before moving over to the BBC’s flagship channel BBC1. The sitcom will star high-profile UK comedian Peter Kay, who entered the Guiness book of records last year for selling the most tickets ever for a stand-up comedy tour – 1.14 million across 113 arena dates.

The news comes just days after the BBC ordered a strand of six original dramas for the iPlayer from its youth-skewing network BBC3.

“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,” said BBC1 controller Danny Cohen.