Martin Clunes is to star in a brand new comedy drama set in New Zealand for ITV1, The Man Who Lost His Head.

He flew to Auckland to film The Man Who Lost His Head, a comic story about a straight laced museum curator whose life is turned upside down when he has to travel across the world to negotiate with a dysfunctional but passionate and determined Maori community.

Martin (Doc Martin, Losing It, William and Mary) plays Ian Bennet, a curator at the British Imperial Museum. The drama follows his journey from the dusty backrooms of the museum to the seductive and wild scenery of the West Coast of Northlands, as he gets out of his depth in the wrangling over the return of a carving.

Caroline Harker (Foyle’s War, A Touch of Frost, Midsomer Murders) stars as Bennet’s fiancée Fiona, his boss’s daughter. They are about to marry when Ian is given the repatriation claim to deal with.

It’s a delicate case which needs an experienced pair of hands. With the prospect of promotion as a reward for a successful outcome, Ian knows there is no alternative than for him to fly to Auckland, leaving Fiona with the wedding plans.

Nicola Kawana, star of New Zealand soap Shortland Street, Mercy Peak and Mataku, plays Maori woman Lollie, who Ian begins to fall for when his stay in the small coastal town of Otakataka is extended.

They are joined by a prestigious cast of other New Zealand actors, including Te Paki Cherrington (No 2, Greenstone, Ngati), Calvin Tuteao (Shortland Street, Whanau, Crooked Earth) and John Leigh (Outrageous Fortune, Maddigan’s Quest, Interrogation).

Shot entirely on location in New Zealand, The Man Who Lost His Head is a Greenlit Rights and South Pacific Pictures production for ITV1 and TV One in New Zealand.

The Man Who Lost His Head is written by Mark Wallington (The Only Boy for Me, The Missing Postman). Award winning director and playwright Terry Johnson (Not Only But Always, Cor Blimey! Neville’s Island) directed the drama. The producer is Eve Gutierrez (Menace). The executive producer for Greenlit Rights is Jill Green.

Eve Gutierrez says: “The arena of museum repatriation is such a topical issue at the moment with a huge number of artefacts, including of course the high profile case of the Elgin Marbles, the subject of international claims. So we were really captured by the idea of combining this debate with feel-good comedy to produce a true fish out of water story. And who better to play our museum curator than Martin Clunes!”

Martin Clunes says: “This is a fascinating and fun story, which I’m sure will capture the viewers’ imagination. I am delighted to be working with Terry Johnson again, and I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to work in New Zealand.”