Gorman's Genius set for BBC2

Dave Gorman's Radio 4 entertainment show Genius is to transfer to BBC2 as a six-part series. The radio-show involves members of the public pitching ingenious ideas to Gorman and a celebrity guest.

Past ideas have included fizzy Bovril, a shower coat that allows you to stay dry while you wash your hair and a child-swap scheme for divorced fathers who have to travel long distances. The television version, which will begin filming in September for a likely transmission on BBC2 early next year, will transfer to television virtually unchanged. It is being made by the BBC's in-house comedy department and is the latest successful radio show to make the transition to TV.

Genius will also stay on Radio 4, with a series and possibly a Christmas special lined up for next year, the BBC said.

Recent panellists on the radio show have included television presenter Richard Madeley, Guardian columnist and programme maker Charlie Brooker, comedian Simon Munnery and London Evening Standard art critic Brian Sewell. Green Wing actor Stephen Mangan appeared in a television pilot made late last year.

The series was co-created by David Scott and Ali Crockatt, who co-write the show with Gorman and Simon Nicholls. Nicholls, the producer of the radio version, will also produce the television transfer. Armando Iannucci, one of the team behind The Day Today and I'm Alan Partridge and creator of political comedy The Thick of It, will be executive producer.

The commission reflects a BBC policy of encouraging radio comedies to transfer to television. Earlier this month, Radio 4 launched its Happy Mondays season of programmes, which is partly funded by BBC Vision and aims to develop ideas for radio that can transfer to TV.