Comedian Mark Watson has penned a comedy pilot for the BBC that will form part of the Corporation’s second Salford Sitcom Showcase.

The first showcase was held last year and saw six comedy pilots performed live, with the BBC then commissioning two full series – Citizen Khan for BBC1 and Hebburn for BBC2.

This year, the showcase will include Watson’s 1987, which is being developed for BBC1 with Hartswood Films, the production company behind Sherlock.

Other scripts that will have live performances include Keiron Self and Giles New’s The Gatekeeper, being developed for BBC2 by the BBC’s comedy department, and Just Us, a comedy from Tom Anderson, which is being made by DLT Entertainment for BBC2.

There will also be live performances of It Takes A Village, which is a pilot for BBC1 being made by the Corporation and Chain Gang for BBC3, which is penned by Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil and is also produced by the BBC. Homeboys, written by Pete Jackson, completes the line-up and is being developed by Lucky Giant.

BBC North director Peter Salmon said: “BBC Comedy is the natural home for so many funny performers, writers and entertainers, so this event is our autumn highlight and hopefully will result in some new commissions.”