The £5.5m deal is for 22 episodes and will pay for the entire production package, including signing a "major US comedian" who is in talks with producers to co-star.

A spokesman for producers Avalon Television said both BBC and ITV had been in talks but Sky offered the best deal in terms of "budget and longevity".

Each week Baddiel's character runs through his complicated life by chatting to his therapist and reflects on the issues involved.

Baddiel - best known for The Mary Whitehouse Experience and Fantasy Football League - said he wanted to create the show along American lines, adding only Sky were prepared to fund the 22 episodes he wanted, rather than the conventional six.

The programme will go out on the Sky Premier channel, which has also signed up comedian Harry Enfield for a new series. Sky has recently pledged to invest more in UK production rather than buying in shows from the US.

Comedy actor Bill Murray has joined the cast of Charlie's Angels as the girls' go-between.

The role was played in the 1970s television series by David Doyle and Murray is seen as ideal for the movie.

Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz are playing Angels Dylan and Natalie, but the third member has yet to be cast, even though filming starts on 25 October.

Murray is currently starring in Rushmore, a coming of age drama from young Texan film maker Wes Anderson. It opens in the UK on Friday.

First Austen novel set for big screen

American actress Rachael Leigh Cook is to star in a screen adaptation of Jane Austen's first novel, Northanger Abbey.

The film, being adapted by British writer Andrew Davies, is a co- production between Miramax, Granada Films and London Weekend Television.

It is the second in a two-film deal Cook signed with Miramax after she starred in the comedy She's All That.

Cook is currently starring for Miramax in the black comedy Never Better.

Ricky fans snap up tickets for US tour

Tickets for singing sensation Ricky Martin's forthcoming US tour have sold out in just six minutes.

The Latino star, who had a UK number one with Livin' La Vida Voca, is due to play 16 dates across the United States in October and November.

Thousands of fans have been left disappointed by the scramble.

A spokesman for Ricky said: "The tickets flew out. You just couldn't make it up."

Cyber auction in aid of Omagh victims

Sport and entertainment stars were set to join forces on Wednesday for the first ever Internet auction in Ireland.

The on-line auction is being held to raise money for those affected by the Omagh bombing.

The event, set up by Omagh Council and two Internet providers, will also raise money for other victims of the Troubles.

Memorabilia donated by Boyzone and comedian Ardal O'Hanlon, Manchester United football club, and Formula One stars Eddie Irvine and Michael Schumacher will go on sale.

Mitchum story on its way

The turbulent life story of the late actor Robert Mitchum is being written by his grandson Bentley Mitchum, who hopes to turn it into a feature film.

The Roads Less Travelled: The Robert Mitchum Story is based on the encounters Mitchum experienced as a teenager making his way from Delaware to Hollywood.

The story will also chronicle his various affairs - including one with Marilyn Monroe with whom he starred in River of No Return.

Robert Mitchum died of lung cancer in 1997, aged 79.

Fluke quiz win for Radio 2 listener

One lucky listener has won two guitars in separate BBC Radio 2 competitions.

Purely by coincidence, Ian Field's name was picked out to win a Carlos Santana contest on the Ken Bruce show after he won a Mark Knopfler contest from the same presenter last year.

"We have only ever given away two famous guitars," said Ken Bruce. "And Ian has won them both!

AA patrolman Ian Field said: "I was amazed. I was listening in my car, but fortunately it was stationary."

Field said he has had a couple of offers for the guitars already but has "no intention" of selling them.

'Free Robert Downey Jr' movement starts

Friends and family of actor Robert Downey Jr have started a Website urging fans to join a letter-writing campaign on his behalf.

"Please use your influence to allow Robert to serve his sentence in a lock- down drug rehab instead of the penitentiary," it says.

Downey is in a Californian prison for a series of arrests in 1996.

Prison spokeswoman Belle Call says the actor will not get special treatment: "He's an inmate. That's what he is to us."

Rod's ex lands role in Hollywood comedy

Rod Stewart's estranged wife Rachel Hunter is continuing her bid for movie stardom by landing a role in a new black comedy.

Hunter has got one of the leading roles in Best Actress, a story about a movie star who would literally kill to win an Academy Award.

Her co-stars include Anthony Head from the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Rod, meanwhile, is rumoured to have just bought a villa in Spain.