Fox orders remake

American TV is having a second attempt at remaking Absolutely Fabulous for a US audience.

The Fox network has ordered a pilot script from Saturday Night Live writer Christine Zander, who will shift the setting to Los Angeles

But Hollywood trade paper Variety says the remake will ‘retain the basic template of the original, revolving around the friendship of two boozy, over-40 best friends’.

Roseanne Barr tried to remake the programme in the Nineties, with Carrie Fisher as the star, but it never made it past the pilot stage. Network executives are believed to have baulked at the unwholesome behaviour of the two lead characters.

The remake will be overseen by Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz – who recently attempted to adapt The Thick of It for the US, without success – and Eric and Kim Tannenbaum, executive producers on Two And A Half Men.

Jennifer Saunders will be an executive producer, alongside Zander and BBC Worlwide’s Ian Moffitt.

Jon Plowman, who produced the BBC series, told British TV industry magazine Broadcast: ‘The trouble with doing Ab Fab in America is that it will have to end with Edina and Saffy hugging, Patsy giving up drink and drugs, and them all hugging mum. It won't work. It'll be too nice. Let's hope they get it right.’

The original Ab Fab has been a hit on America’s Comedy Central channel.

Published: 7 Oct 2008