Brian Pern in TV return

Spoof prog icon Brian Pern will return for a third BBC series later this year, the corporation have confirmed.

Simon Day’s character will mark 45 years of making music and lead a reunion of his band Thotch in the run of three episodes, which also features co-stars Paul Whitehouse, Nigel Havers and others.

A list of big-name guest stars will be announced in due course, along with details of a series of short clips based around the rest of the BBC’s musical output.

Pern says: “I am so delighted to be back on BBC Four to help sell more copies of my new orchestral greatest hits album, tickets for the Thotch reunion shows – and to remind people how I shaped rock music over the last 45 years.”

Co-creator Rhys Thomas says: “I’m thrilled that Brian Pern is returning, though it’s been hard to celebrate since receiving death threats from certain members of Genesis and a mechanic from Mike and The Mechanics.

“I’d like to thank the landlord of our safe house for being so kind and the police for their continued support.”

The BBC’s Cassian Harrison adds: “We’re delighted to welcome Brian back from his extended sojourn up a boabab tree in Namibia, where he’s been learning to play the pangolin. We simply cannot wait to hear the results.”

The first two series, screened in February and December last year, featured cameos by Peter Gabriel, Rick Wakeman and others. Gabriel said: “It made me laugh a lot – even though it was at my expense.”

Brian Pern: 45 Years In Prog And Roll will be broadcast in the autumn, with full details to be confirmed.

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.