BBC UNVEILS LAVISH ADAPTATION OF THE TAUNTING OF ANDREW SACHS

THE BBC last night re-established its reputation for quality programming as it unveiled a lavish multi-million pound drama based on the taunting of Andrew Sachs.

Much of the taunting will be filmed against the magnificent backdrop of Castle Howard

Starring Sir Ian McKellen as the Fawlty Towers actor, the 12-part series begins in 1930s Berlin as the young Sachs and his family flee Nazi persecution.

Despite anti-semitism and the brutality of John Cleese, Sachs's comic skills make him one of the best-loved actors in television history, before Russell Brand offers to masturbate him into the palm of his hand.

The series is being produced at Elstree Studios by the team behind Cranford, Little Dorrit and the BAFTA-winning BBC Four show Russell Brand Fucks Your Granddaughter.

Tony Blair actor Michael Sheen will play Brand, while jumped-up researcher Jonathan Ross will be portrayed by his close friend Sir Ray Winstone.

BBC director general Mark Thompson said: "I got into this business to make quality programmes about Holocaust survivors being abused by foul-mouthed mediocrities.

"The Taunting of Andrew Sachs really is the BBC at its best."

Much of the £20 million budget will be spent on an elaborate dream sequence where McKellen is pinned to his bed as Sheen and Winstone drench him in gin and then masturbate him into a mug shaped liked John Cleese's head.