The drama is a mix of CGI and live action

Martin Clunes and Fay Ripley are to star in a TV adaptation of Raymond Briggs' book Fungus the Bogeyman.

The children's classic, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, will be shown on BBC One and the CBBC channel in the autumn.

Clunes, best known for Men Behaving Badly, and Cold Feet star Ripley will appear as the parents of Jessica White, who becomes trapped in "Bogeydom" with Fungus and his family.

The slimy green creature Fungus will be created by computer-generated imagery (CGI).

He emerges from his dark underworld to sift through dustbins and make things go bump in the night.

It is the first time the story has been adapted for television, although there have been stage versions of the book.

Grange Hill goes into its 27th series

TV star Martin Clunes was reported to be the new host of Have I Got News For Your by the tabloids earlier this week but the programme denied the story.

Other new CBBC drama commissions for 2002 include Saskia and Nosh, about an Australian boy and a British girl who meet in cyberspace, and Jason 4, described as a "teenage X-Files."

Old favourites Grange Hill and Byker Grove return for their 27th and 15th series.

CBeebies, the BBC channel for pre-school children, has commissioned a second series of the popular Fimbles.

New programme Big Cook Little Cook will bring culinary skills to the under-fives.