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- guardian.co.uk, Wednesday October 10 2007 17.39 BST
Solon: signed by the BBC last year for radio and TV projects, but BBC3 passed on The Third XI
ITV2 has commissioned a sketch show starring Perrier award-winner Laura Solon that was previously developed for BBC3.
Solon will star alongside Marek Larwood, one third of the maverick sketch trio We Are Klang, who were nominated for the Perrier's successor, the if.comedy award, and Ben Willbond, a former Perrier best newcomer award-winner.
The show, which has a working title of The Third XI, is production company Avalon's first commission for ITV2.
It was commissioned by the ITV's director of comedy and entertainment, Paul Jackson, and the ITV2 controller, Zai Bennett.
Avalon's eight-part peak time series, which is currently in production and will air in early 2008, will also be written by its three stars.
Solon, who became only the second woman after Jenny Éclair to win the Perrier in 2005, was signed up by the BBC last year to produce a new comedy show on Radio 4 and work on several TV projects.
She appeared alongside Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse in BBC1's Ruddy Hell! It's Harry and Paul.
The Third XI was developed for BBC3 but it is understood the channel passed on the show.
Larwood has previously appeared in BBC2 sitcom Hyperdrive and BBC3's Rush Hour, while Willbond appeared in BBC4's The Thick of It and the movie Starter for Ten.
The series is being produced by Sioned Wiliam, former controller of comedy at ITV, and directed by Ben Kellett. It is executive produced by Jon Thoday and Richard Allen-Turner.
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