“Spaced” and “Shaun Of The Dead” actor Nick Frost is to star in BBC Two’s new sci-fi sitcom – giving him his first lead role in a TV comedy.

In April, Chortle reported that the channel was working on the new show, which BBC executive Jon Plowman described as ‘an hilarious version of Das Boot in space’.

Now more details have emerged, including the title – “Hyperdrive” – and Frosts’s character, space commander Henderson

The show, set in 2151, revolves around a British spaceship whose crew’s job is to encourage aliens to visit the UK; and en route encounter anti-gravity failures, annoying talking doors and wars with aliens.

The comedy, set in 2151, has been described by executive producer Jon Plowman as a “hilarious version of Das Boot in space”.

Hyperdrive also stars Kevin Eldon as first officer York, a brilliant scientist, stand-up Dan Antopolski as insubordinate technical officer and Miranda Hart as a diplomatic officer in love with Hernderson.

The show, which was sciprted by former Black Books writers Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley, is being filmed in Manchester and is due to go out next year.