Will & Grace launched its new series in the States last night by transmitting an episode live.

And the stars had to perform it twice, first for the East coast, then later for the West

And although stars Debra Messing, who plays Grace, and Sean Hayes (Jack) had fleeting attacks of the giggles in the first show, the headline-grabbing stunt went smoothly to plan.

The episode also caused waves by showing Eric McCormack, who stars as Will, kiss Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin.

At the programme's end, the cast took a bow before the studio audience while the crew in the control booth was shown erupting in cheers.

The show was the opening episode of the sitcom’s eighth and final series, was broadcast live on America’s East coast, while those in the West saw the same show repeated almost untouched slightly later.

The half-hour show centred on the discovery that the husband of Karen, played by Megan Mullally, was not dead – as had previously been thought – but on the run from the mob

Will & Grace is not the only show to have done a live broadcast to attract added interest, with The Drew Carey Show, ER and The Bill all having pulled similar stunts.