Gemma Arterton to star in BBC Two comedy Inside No 9

Gemma Arterton will star in one of the six episodes

Gemma Arterton is to star in a new dark comedy series for BBC Two written by the creators of The League of Gentlemen and Psychoville.

Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton will also star in the six-part show - provisionally titled Inside No 9 - to be broadcast late next year.

Each standalone story will be set in a different house with the same door number in common.

Other actors confirmed to appear include Tamsin Greig and Adam Deacon.

The BBC said the series would show the goings-on at the houses "where the ordinary and mundane rub shoulders with the extraordinary and macabre".

"We wanted to explore the sense of claustrophobia and intensity that is brought about by limiting the action to one location in each story," Shearsmith and Pemberton said.

"We're thrilled to have our own anthology series of devilish delights, and can't wait to throw the doors of our various number 9s open to the nation."

The IT Crowd's Katherine Parkinson, The Hour's Anna Chancellor, Exile's Timothy West and Ben Willbond from The Thick of It will also star in the series.

"Once again Steve and Reece bring us a comedy series that stands out from the rest. I hope these six dark little tales will be as enjoyed and talked about as [highly acclaimed work to date," BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow said.