Inside No 9: Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith want to turn BBC show into theatre production

'Inside No. 9' is being turned into a stage show.

The popular BBC Two dark comedy - which is set to return for its seventh series this spring - has its roots in theatre as the one-room, self-contained episodes "started off life" as plays, and now creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith are looking into a live production.

Steve told the Daily Star newspaper's Hot TV column: "It is definitely on the cards. We have flirted with the idea of doing a play and now we are moving into the heavy petting stage.

"I think a stage play is good because the episodes are in many ways little theatre pieces.

"They started off life in our minds as plays and there is no reason why we couldn't transfer them."

Meanwhile, the upcoming series is set to feature a number of guest stars including 'W1A'

actress Jessica Hynes, 'Line of Duty' actor Daniel Mays, 'Motherland' star Diane Morgan, Britannia's Sophie Okonedo, 'Star Trek: Discovery's Jason Isaacs and the duo's former 'League of Gentlemen' collaborator Mark Gatiss.

There are also many more performers who are on Steve and Mark's "hit list", but scheduling can be an issue.

Steve added: "There are people who want to be in the show but often they are very busy and dates don't tie up.

"We have a hit list of people but chances are they won't have a free week."

BBC's Head of Comedy Josh Cole previously promised the next series of the BAFTA award-winning comedy - which first aired in 2014 - will be "better than ever".

He said: "‘It’s a joy to be back in the Inside No. 9 saddle. Reece and Steve are comic masters, and their new scripts are better than ever. Which really is saying something when the last bunch won Best Comedy at the BAFTAs."