Sitcom writer appeals for props

Richard Ayoade is one of the stars of The IT Crowd

The writer of Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd has appealed to the public to provide props for the show's third run.

Writing in his blog, Graham Linehan said he did not have time to choose the items that "litter the main set".

He appealed for fans to suggest posters and toys to decorate the show's "comic shop and batcave" look.

The show, which centres on a trio of computer support staff, won the Rose D'Or for best sitcom in Switzerland earlier this year.

Irish-born Mr Linehan said he had intended the set to look like "a geek's Shangri-La".

'Geek references'

"In each series, I've felt we've nearly got there. Maybe this time, with you guys involved, we'll finally nail it," he wrote.

The writer added that he had only just completed the final episode of the new series. With just three weeks to go until the start of filming, that meant he did not have time to source props himself.

He added that items he liked to see on set included T-shirts, fanzines, board games and "geek references" and asked fans to contact Talkback Thames with their ideas.

Mr Linehan's other screenwriting credits include Father Ted, Big Train, Black Books and Brass Eye.

The IT Crowd was also nominated for best sitcom at the Bafta television awards earlier this year.