Matt Lucas courted for Friar Tuck role

Published Thursday 7 December 2006 at 14:15 by Liz Thomas

Friar Tuck, controversially omitted from the first series of BBC1 Saturday hit drama Robin Hood, is to be reinstated in the band of outlaws for series two with the BBC hopeful that Matt Lucas will take up the role.

BBC1 controller Peter Fincham said that the move to bring the popular character into the show was necessary as part of the series’ evolution. He added that he had the Little Britain star in mind to play the role.

“I want Matt Lucas to do it, and I have mentioned it to him and at the time he said ‘I would love to do that’.”

However any move to join the 13-week show will depend on the comic actor’s schedule as Robin Hood is filmed over some months in Hungary. Lucas and David Walliams are already working on a new sketch show for the Corporation, after signing an exclusive three-year deal. A source said that the show had featured some new characters and sketches but there would still be some old favourites as well.

Lucas will be on screens on Boxing Day in the role of Toad in the television adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, alongside Bob Hoskins.