Image caption Tate and Mack started their careers together in a live sketch show in Edinburgh

Comic stars Lee Mack and Catherine Tate are to appear in a British remake of hit US sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond.

The Smiths, to be set in Cheshire, follows a successful sportswriter who lives across the street from his overbearing parents and older brother.

The BBC One pilot, written by Mack, is being produced by Silver River, the team behind BBC comedy Pulling.

Everybody Loves Raymond, which starred Ray Romano, ran on the CBS network from 1996 to 2005 and won 15 Emmy Awards.

The UK pilot will be a reunion for Tate and Mack, who appeared together in a live sketch show at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1999 before going on to become national stars.

Tate is now known for her BBC sketch show and her role as Donna Noble in Doctor Who. She also recently joined the cast of David Walliams' Big School, a comedy about the dysfunctional staff of a secondary school.

Mack can currently be seen on BBC One in the sixth series of his hit sitcom Not Going Out.

The pair will record the pilot in front of a live audience on 28 May.