Image caption Merchant played ineffectual agent Darren Lamb in the BBC's Extras

Comedian Stephen Merchant is to write and star in a pilot of a solo comedy series based on his 2011 stand-up tour.

Merchant - who co-created The Office, Extras and Life's Too Short with Ricky Gervais - will play an Englishman looking for love in Los Angeles.

The idea is drawn from his Hello Ladies live show, which toured the UK last year and was later released on DVD.

The pilot - which Merchant will also executive produce - will be shot later this year, the Deadline website said.

The 37-year-old has written the episode with Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, both former writer-producers on the US version of The Office.

The duo previously worked on the comedy films Year One and Bad Teacher, as well as the script for the planned Ghostbusters 3.

Though best known for his work with Gervais, Merchant has been seen without him in such US films as Hall Pass and Tooth Fairy.