Will Arnett joins BBC comedy The First Team

Will Arnett is to star in new BBC comedy \'The First Team\'.

The \'Arrested Development\' actor will play the US chairman of a football team in the show, which has been written by \'Inbetweeners\' creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley.

They said: "We\'re so lucky to be working with such an incredible bunch, some new faces and some we\'ve worked with over the years, all making us laugh enormously."

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Shaquille Ali-Yebuah, Jack McMullen, and Jake Short will play three young footballers in the six-part series, which is currently in production.

The show will follow the off-the-pitch lives of the trio, who are managed by Italian gaffer Cesare, who will be played by Paulo Sassenelli.

Theo Barklem Biggs, Chris Geere, Tamla Kari, Vadhir Derbez, Phil Wang, Neil Fitzmaurice and Yetunde Oduwole will also feature in the programme.

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Gregor Sharp, BBC commissioning editor, said: "Iain and Damon have created a series about a group of ordinary young men in an extraordinary world.

"It\'s completely authentic, full of observation and insight, as well as their trademark gift for comic set piece and they\'ve assembled an amazing team to bring it to life. We can\'t wait to see the results."

Jonathan Blyth, BBC Studios director of comedy, added: "Iain, Damon and Tom have pulled together a fantastic international cast that I think audiences around the world will love!

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"This is such an exciting collaboration for us, and I look forward to seeing the cast dazzle on screen."