Ruth Madoc is one of several household names in the show

Cannon and Ball, Gordon Kaye from 'Allo 'Allo and Hi-De-Hi's Ruth Madoc are among the stars of Revolver, starting on BBC One on 13 January.

The show, which sees familiar faces performing sketches written by a new generation of writers, began life on BBC Choice in 2001.

The first show is written by Graham Norton scriptwriter Simon Blackwell, and features Lionel Blair and Julie Goodyear.

'Nice twist'

A BBC spokesman said: "It is a whole lot of old timers doing contemporary comedy. It is a really nice twist."

Allo Allo's Gordon Kaye plays a farmer who thinks his animals are Hollywood legends.

Coronation Street's Julie Goodyear plays a curtain-twitching suburbanite who watches dispassionately as Daleks attack the world.