Sky Atlantic HD has announced the cast list and start of production on upcoming comedy Hunderby, from Bafta nominated writer and actress Julia Davis (Nighty Night).

Set in the 1800s, Hunderby features Helene (Alexandra Roach, The Iron Lady), a shipwreck survivor washed ashore near a small English village. There, she is swept off her feet by widowed pastor Edmund (Alex MacQueen, This Is England 88) and the two soon marry, the puritanical Edmund believing his bride to be untouched by another man. But she has a history, a dark past that she cannot escape. As Helene moves into Edmund’s home, she falls under the watchful eye of housekeeper Dorothy (Julia Davis) who is more than a little involved in her master’s life, and quite obsessed with his dead first wife, Arabelle – to whom Helene simply does not compare. While Helene battles to keep her past a secret, she must navigate Dorothy’s devious scheming, her husband’s harsh critique and a potential new love interest.

Also starring are Rufus Jones (Holy Flying Circus) as Doctor Foggerty, Rosie Cavaliero (Spy) as the Doctor’s crippled wife Hester, Jane Stanness (Nighty Night) as local gossip Biddy Ritherfoot and Rosalind Knight (Midsomer Murders) as Edmund’s mother Mathilde.

Rebekah Staton (Spy) and Ben Bishop (Whitechapel) play frisky couple Annie and Tom, who are staff at Edmund’s home. Alexander Armstrong (The Armstrong & Miller Show) joins the cast as Brother Joseph from the local church, Daniel Lawrence Taylor (How Not To Live Your Life) as Geoff, a mute shipwreck survivor, and Kevin Eldon (This Is Jinsy) as a mysterious hunchbacked figure from Helene’s past, John Whiffin.

Baby Cow Productions’ Henry Normal, Armando Iannucci and Lindsay Hughes will serve as Executive Producers. John Rushton (The Royle Family) will produce the series, and Tony Dow (Only Fools and Horses) will direct.

Hunderby will go into production this week and will air on Sky Atlantic HD in Autumn 2012.