Comedian Felicity Ward is to play the lead in an Australian version of The Office. She will be the first woman to play the lead role in a version of the sitcom created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

The series will be co-produced by Amazon Studios, BBC Studios ANZ and Bunya Entertainment and is the thirteenth adaptation of the original which launched on BBC Two in 2001.

According to reports Ward will play Hannah Howard, the managing director of packaging company Flinley Craddick. When her branch closes down “she goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep in order to keep her ‘work family’ together”, says the announcement

“The staff of Flinley Craddick indulge her and must endure Hannah’s outlandish plots as they work toward the impossible targets that have been set for them.”

Ricky Gervais said: “I’m very excited about Australia remaking my little show from the turn of the century. Office politics have changed a bit in 20 years, so can’t wait to see how they navigate a modern-day David Brent.”

Edith Poor, Steen Raskopoulos, Shari Sebbens and Josh Thomson will also star, with production starting in Australia in June.

Picture: Steve Ullathorne