Hugh Laurie, Lord Lloyd Webber front new ITV docos

Hugh Laurie and Andrew Lloyd Webber are among the famous faces who will take part in a new series of documentaries for ITV1.

Alongside House star Hugh and composer Andrew on the new series - called Perspectives - will be actors Robson Green and Sir Ian McKellen.

Hugh Laurie: Down by The River will follow the actor as he records a blues album in New Orleans.

ITV's Jo Clinton-Davis said: "Hugh Laurie's passion for New Orleans and the legendary blues is palpable and we are thrilled to be working with him and Sprout Pictures on this unique documentary."

Lord Lloyd-Webber will present an ITV documentary about the art of the Pre-Raphaelites later this year.

The impresario moved to ITV after a long stint on the BBC where he featured in a series of shows searching for new musical stars.

Andrew Lloyd Webber And The Pre-Raphaelites will look at the work of the group of artists and poets who scandalised 19th-century England.

Lloyd Webber has collected Pre-Raphaelite art since the 1960s and showed work from his collection in a special show at the Royal Academy in London in 2003.

Lord Of The Rings actor Sir Ian will front a documentary about the life and work of LS Lowry, and miner's son Robson will examine the story of the Pitmen Painters - a group of miners in Ashington, Northumberland, who taught themselves to paint and saw their work exhibited around the world.

Their true story inspired the play The Pitmen Painters, by Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall.