Inbetweeners stars Joe Thomas and Simon Bird have found a home for their First World War sitcom, Chickens.

The duo have already filmed a pilot episode, screened by Channel 4 last year, and now a six-part series has been picked up by Sky1 HD. 

The plot sees Joe and Simon joined by co-writer Jonny Sweet playing three hapless conscientious objectors in a sleepy British village trying to justify their absence from the frontline.

Sky's head of comedy Lucy Lumsden said: "We have fallen in love with those naughty chickens. We are delighted to give such a talented bunch a home." 

The pair shot to fame in 2008 with the release of The Inbetweeners, which gave rise to a hugely successful movie in 2011. 

Joe was also seen in Channel 4 student comedy Fresh Meat, starring alongside comedian Jack Whitehall.

He said of Chickens: "We feel like it is a rich setting and the advantage of writing about the past, we know there is stuff we can draw on."

The show will be screened in 2013.

Photo: © Rex