BOURNEMOUTH is set to host the first ever convention dedicated to cult US television show Six Feet Under, which was set around a family-owned funeral business in California.

Organiser Brian Jenner hopes fellow fans will seize the opportunity to spend a weekend in the resort next August, and hear talks from an embalmer, an undertaker, academics, writers and former Daily Telegraph obituaries editor Andrew McKie.

He plans to offer them the chance to picnic in the “stunningly beautiful” Wimborne Road cemetery, sit in a hearse, watch a screening of the film Harold and Maude, and take part in sessions to discuss their favourite characters and episodes.

Although planning is in the very early stages, he also hopes to persuade some of the cast members and others involved with the programme to turn up.

HBO series Six Feet Under was created and produced by Alan Ball, who also wrote the 1999 Oscar-winning movie American Beauty and created the more recent TV hit True Blood.

Its 63 episodes – each starting with a death – revolved around the dysfunctional Fisher family and screened in the USA between 2001 and 2005. The stellar cast included James Cromwell, Rachel Griffiths, Mena Suvari, Patricia Clarkson and Kathy Bates.

Writer Mr Jenner said the programme had nearly half a million fans on Facebook, and some were already expressing interest in attending the convention.

“I was at school with Sam Mendes, director of American Beauty, which was Alan Ball’s first big hit. The fact that Alan Ball has written to me and wished me good luck I feel is an endorsement. The next step is to write to all the key members of the cast.”

Tickets are not due to go on sale until March.