The transmission date has been confirmed for the start of the seventh series of award-winning anthology series Inside No 9, created by and starring Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith.

According to the BBC website the new series of six episodes will start on Wednesday, April 20 at 10pm on BBC Two.

The first episode is Merrily, Merrily, in which Lawrence (Shearsmith) has arranged a special reunion on a boat for his old university friends. As they strike out across the remote lake, their conversation takes them into troubled waters...

The episode co-stars Pemberton and Shearsmith's League of Gentlemen partner Mark Gatiss and also Diane Morgan. It is the episode which Morgan has talked about in interviews. When she found out they would be filming all day on a pedalo she purchased adult nappies in case she needed the toilet, but accidentally ordered far too many. 

Merrily, Merrily is directed by Al Campbell, who – trivia fans – played spoof pundit Barry Shitpeas in Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe shows, so this is not just a bit of a League of Gentlemen reunion but also a bit of a Screenwipe reunion with Shitpeas working with Diane Morgan, alias Philomena Cunk, again. 

Guests in later episodes include Daniel Mays (Line of Duty, Good Omens), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter, The OA), Sophie Okonedo (The Escape Artist, Britannia), Jessica Hynes (There She Goes, W1A), Daisy Haggard (Back to Life, Breeders), Annette Badland (EastEnders, Doctor Who), Siobhan Redmond (The Replacement, Unforgotten) and Ron Cook (Hot Fuzz, The Salisbury Poisonings).

When filming started last year Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton said: "We hope you'll join us and another incredible cast of actors for more surprises that will make your jaws drop and spines tingle. Heads might even roll, and if not heads, definitely eyes.“

Inside No 9, Wednesdays from April 20 at 10pm on BBC Two.

Picture: BBC