While most reading this will not remember The Comic Strip Presents… all I can say is that you need a quick brush up on this classic British comedy series and be ready for their triumphant return in the not-too-distant future.

Originally, the group was made up of the likes of Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer and Rik Mayall (The Young Ones), Dawn French, Robbie Coltrane (Cracker, Harry Potter) Peter Richardson and Jennifer Saunders. The Comic Strip Presents…. got it’s beginning in the early 80’s on Channel 4 in the UK and have continued to get together for one-off specials for a number of years, the last being in 2005.

With so many great British comedies victim of the commissioners axe these days, and a major shift towards more panel, chat or stand-up shows, it was incredibly welcome news that a new Comic Strip Presents…. has been commissioned by Channel 4 for transmission later this year. Joining original cast members Nigel Planer, Rik Mayall, Jennifer Saunders, Peter Richardson and Robbie Coltrane will be Stephen Mangan, Harry Enfield and James Buckley (Rock & Chips). No word yet on Dawn French or Adrian Edmondson at this time.

Comic Strip: The Hunt for Tony Blair, a 50’s style film-noir spoof, will have it all. Revenge, betrayal, women (how about Jennifer Saunders as Margaret Thatcher doing her best impression of Bette Davis from Whatever Happened to Baby Jane). Channel 4 promises a steamy, action-packed thriller, all centering around Prime Minister, Tony Blair, wanted for murder, fleeing and escaping from Number 10 Downing Street, leaving behind Cherie with one goal in mind…to clear his name, no matter the consequences may be.

I’m all over this one, but if he encounters a one-armed man in the process, it could be David Janssen all over again.