Recording of the programmes will begin in November, but no dates have been set for broadcast.

The BBC has confirmed reports that writer John Sullivan is working on new scripts - the first since the last Christmas special in 1996.

BBC Director of Entertainment Alan Yentob said, "It's been a long wait, but the best things are always worth waiting for."

Most of the original cast have agreed to work on the new episodes.

A BBC spokeswoman told BBC News Online: "All parties are incredibly keen to work on it."

But on the day the sitcom's return was confirmed came the sad news that actor Kenneth MacDonald - known to viewers as Mike the landlord in the Nag's Head - had died aged 50.

Fee

A report in the Guardian newpaper said that the three one-off programmes would cost �1m each - more than twice the average for a sitcom.

It added that the show's star David Jason - who plays Del Boy Trotter - would receive a �100,000 fee per episode.

It is likely that Nicholas Lyndhurst, now a much bigger star than when the series began, will receive a comparable fee.

On its last outing in Christmas 1996, the programme attracted an audience of more than 23 million viewers.