Morecambe and Wise star Victoria Wood

Comedienne Victoria Wood is to star in new feature-length BBC Two drama documenting 20 years in the lives of popular British double act Morecambe and Wise.

Victoria Wood is to star in new feature-length drama 'Morecambe and Wise'.

The comedienne - who is also the brains behind the BBC Two drama - will feature alongside Jim Moir, best known as comic Vic Reeves, in the story which spans 20 years in the lives of the double act.

However, Victoria admitted having the one-off show cover such a long period presented difficulties in terms of casting.

She explained: "I've always thought that a film about their days as child performers in variety and their struggles to establish themselves would make a fantastic story.

"The casting has been a marathon. Because our story spans 20 years we have had to find three actors for each part - to play the comedians as children, teenagers and men. We were looking for a specific Eric or Ernie quality at each age."

'Morecambe and Wise' will focus on the influence of Eric Morecambe's mother Sadie - who encouraged her son to become a performer - on the careers of the popular duo.

Gary Morecambe, Eric's son, has described the BBC Two show as the "greatest possible tribute" to the pair.

He said: "It's such a genuine thrill to see a film about the early days of Morecambe and Wise being helmed by someone of the calibre of Victoria Wood. It is the greatest possible tribute to the double act."

Penned by Bafta-winning writer Peter Bowker, the cast list for the drama also includes Bryan Dick, Emer Kenny, Daniel Rigby and Reece Shearsmith.