Bill Bailey is to front a six-part ITV series about baboons.

He will track several colonies living around Cape Town for the prime-time half-hour programmes, showing how the animals live in urban areas.

It is not the first wildlife documentary that Bailey, a keen conservationist, has fronted, having hosted a Birdwatching Bonanza for Sky last year.

Baboons With Bill Bailey is one of a raft of celebrity-led shows being commissioned by ITV, including Ronnie Corbett’s Coemedy Tout Of Britain and Jeremy Kyle fronting a six-part Military Driving School.

The series is expected to air later this year.