Dawn French is set to tickle funny bones in BBC's upcoming comedy series Can You Keep a Secret? where she'll be starring as the character Debbie Fenton.

The show unfolds following the peculiar death of Debbie's reclusive husband William, played by Mark Heap.

Now embracing widowhood, Debbie decides to place her family under intense, unprecedented strains. Joking about the new gig, the 66 year old comedy legend quipped: "At last... a sitcom where I can keep my top on... mostly."

According to the synopsis, Debbie's character will go to any lengths to safeguard her family, but it turns out that they might actually need protection from her due to a significant secret she's harboring.

Plot twist her hubby William isn't dead after all; an epic mix-up presents the couple with an irresistible chance to cash in on a life insurance blunder, provided William agrees to a stealthy existence in the loft until the money rolls in, reports the Express.
Dawn French will feature in the new BBC comedy (
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(Image: BBC))

Their son Harry, already frazzled and tempted by the apparent windfall from his 'late' dad's demise, is caught off-guard when he discovers the truth.

Caught between a colossal fib and two sets of toddlers, Harry's predicament grows increasingly comical.

Will Debbie and her family manage to maintain the massive secret that William is still alive, or will the truth accidentally come out that it's all a sham?
Mark Heap is playing Dawn's husband William in the show (
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(Image: GETTY))

Jon Petrie, Director of BBC Comedy, shared his excitement about the new series: "Can You Keep a Secret? hilariously delves into a rarely portrayed stage of the family life cycle, blending classic sitcom elements with an exhilarating farcical crime twist."

The TV icon is playing a "widow" with a big secret (
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(Image: BBC))

"With Dawn French and Mark Heap leading the cast, this is an irresistible new comedy and I can't wait for BBC viewers to see it."

Agreeing,. Simon Mayhew-Archer, Writer and Executive Producer, added: "Having the chance to make this show is the greatest joy of my career, and I'm enormously grateful to Dawn, Jon and Tanya for the opportunity."

The release date for the six-part series remains under wraps, with the BBC promising to make announcements in "due course".