MUMBAI: To mark the occasion of celebrating 45 years in prog and roll, award-winning documentary-maker Rhys Thomas and BBC Four have been granted exclusive access to a year in the life of Brian as he embarks on his summer festival tour, his return to America and the long-awaited Thotch reunion, and more, in this unique three-part series destined to become the greatest rock documentary series ever made since 'Brian Pern: A Life In Rock' and 'The Life Of Rock With Brian Pern.'

Featuring a host of guest stars, clips from Brian's archive and exclusive unseen footage, this new series reveals more about Brian, Thotch and their private lives than ever before. In addition to the series, Brian will also be hosting a series of special shorts on other aspects of music related to the new season of BBC Four music documentaries airing this autumn and how he was responsible for most of it.

Brian Pern said, "I am so delighted to be back on BBC Four to help sell more copies of my new orchestral Greatest Hits Album, tickets for the Thotch reunion shows and to remind people how I shaped rock music over the last 45 years."

'Brian Pern: 45 Years In Prog And Roll' reunites long-term 'Fast Show/Down The Line' collaborators Simon Day, Rhys Thomas and Paul Whitehouse in a new series of the critically acclaimed rock-doc spoof. A huge hit with music and comedy fans alike, the Brian Pern series has now established itself as a well-observed, lovingly created comedy series that goes beyond the comparisons of 'Spinal Tap' to become the definitive satire of not only the rock and roll industry, but the rock-doc formula itself in the 21st century.

Rhys Thomas said, "I am thrilled that Brian Pern is returning to BBC Four, though it has been hard to celebrate since receiving numerous death threats from certain members of Genesis and a mechanic from Mike and The Mechanics. I would like to thank the landlord of our safe house for being so kind and the police for their continued support."

BBC Four, Comedy Commissioning, Controller, Shane Allen, "Rock legend Brian Pern skewers and lampoons all the sacred cows of hallowed halcyon rock nostalgia with many of those musical greats appearing and being in on the joke. It is rock and comedy catnip for the BBC Four viewers who also have the return of double BAFTA-winning Detectorists to look forward to this autumn. These shows cement BBC Four's reputation as a home for beautifully crafted comedy."

BBC Four, Channel Editor, Cassian Harrison says: "We are delighted to welcome Brian Pern back from his extended sojourn up a boabab tree in Namibia where he has been learning to play the pangolin. We simply cannot wait to hear the results."

'Brian Pern: 45 Years in Prog and Roll' is a three-part series each of thirty minutes. Written, produced and directed by Rhys Thomas and starring Simon Day as Pern, Paul Whitehouse as Thotch guitarist Pat Quid, Michael Kitchen as Brian's manager, John Farrow, and Nigel Havers as Thotch keyboard player Tony Pebblé. The series is made by BBC In-house comedy. Richard Webb is executive producer.