Catherine Tate joins cast of David Walliams' new BBC1 sitcom Big School

Catherine Tate has joined to cast of David Walliams' new BBC sitcom (Getty Images)

Catherine Tate has been added to the cast of David Walliams's new BBC1 sitcom.

The actress, famed for playing disruptive pupil Lauren in her TV sketch show, will become a teacher in the forthcoming series Big School.

Also lined up to take roles in the six-part run, set in a secondary school, are Philip Glenister and Frances De La Tour.

Walliams - who created the series - will star as 40-something chemistry teacher Mr Church, while Tate will play a new recruit to Greybridge School, French teacher Miss Postern.

Life On Mars actor Glenister will play lothario gym teacher Mr Gunn, with De La Tour taking on the role of Ms Baron, the headteacher.

The programme was first announced last year, and filming will begin in the next few weeks.

Casting comes just days after it was announced Walliams's former comedy partner, Matt Lucas, is to head up a silent comedy for BBC1.

BBC comedy boss Mark Freeland said: "It's an absolute privilege to work with such a brilliant cast and off-screen production team. Like my Latin GCSE, nothing can go wrong. At least that's what I thought at the time."

PA