By Jenni DixonSOME of Britain's wackiest comedy characters could be descending on one of East Anglia's best-loved seaside resorts for filming this summer.

By Jenni Dixon

SOME of Britain's wackiest comedy characters could be descending on one of East Anglia's best-loved seaside resorts for filming this summer.

Location staff from Little Britain - winner of Best Comedy Programme at this year's BAFTA awards - are looking at filming some scenes of the eagerly-awaited second series in Southwold next month.

They have earmarked the genteel town's promenade and beach huts, tea shops, football pitch, tennis courts and High Street as possible locations for filming.

The show, the brainchild of comedians Matt Lucas and David Walliams, started off as a quirky sketch show on BBC Radio 4 until it was transferred to BBC 3, where it gained cult status before being repeated on BBC2 to huge success.

Stephan Cornell, chairman of Southwold's chamber of trade and commerce, said he was thrilled at the prospect of the show coming to town.

“We've got our own fair share of eccentrics and any exposure for Southwold and its businesses would be wonderful,” he added.

Dr Slim Dinsdale, chairman of the town's beach hut owners' association, said: “As long as it's done in good taste, I think it's a wonderful idea. As for eccentric characters, there are some of those amongst our members.”

Location staff from Little Britain have already approached Robert Loader, partner at Squires Tea Shop in High Street, and asked if it would be possible to close the shop during filming.

“They said it was a quintessential English tea room. I think anything like this would be good for Southwold,” said Mr Loader.

Anne Clarke, manager of the Pit Stop Café and the public tennis courts on The Common, has also been approached.

“We're tucked away and any publicity would be lovely. It's such a beautiful spot. I've seen bits of the programme a couple of times and thought it was very funny,” she said.

Southwold Town Council has raised no objections to Little Britain being filmed in the town and David Holland, spokesman for Waveney District Council, also welcomed the move.

“We would have to make sure no large vehicles go anywhere they shouldn't, but we would encourage filming as it's excellent publicity,” he added.

Town councillors at this week's policy and finance committee meeting raised no objections.

A BBC spokesman confirmed location managers were investigating Southwold as a location for Little Britain, but could not confirm filming dates.

jenni.dixon@eadt.co.uk