'Modern Liver Birds' show planned

The Liver Birds revolved around two female flatmates in Liverpool

ITV1 is planning a sitcom which it is billing as a modern take on the 1970s BBC show The Liver Birds.

The comedy, called Hibbert and Long, is being created by Peep Show writers Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong.

Just like The Liver Birds, it will feature two female flatmates about to reach their 30s, who have a keen interest in the opposite sex.

If the pilot proves successful, it could result in a six-part series being made for the network.

Love interest

Lucy Montgomery and Kerry Godliman have been cast as the flatmates, while former EastEnders actor Tom Ellis will play the love interest the women fight over.

The Liver Birds, which was written by Carla Lane, originally starred Pauline Collins and Polly James, until Collins's character moved out.

She was replaced by Nerys Hughes as Sandra, and the pairing resulted in one of TV's most memorable partnerships.

The show ran between 1969 and 1978, and was briefly revived in 1996.