Channel 4 has brought its first new American sitcom in four years, My Name Is Earl.

The broadcaster made its name on such imports as Cheers, Friends and Frasier, but its reputation for comedy has recently waned - and executives will be hoping the new show could reverse that.

My Name Is Earl stars Jason Lee, an actor whose movie credits include Dogma, Vanilla Sky and Jersey Girl – and the voice of Syndrome in The Incredibles.

In the sitcom, he is a redneck waster who decides to mend his ways after winning $100,000 on the lottery.

Channel 4 bought the show, made by Fox, at this year's Los Angeles Screenings, the industry event where Five bought the rights to Chris Rock’s Everybody Hates Chris.

The hotly-tipped My Name is Earl will launch on NBC this autumn and will come to Channel 4 next year , MediaGuardian reports.

It will be the first new US comedy to air on Channel 4 since Scrubs in 2001.