BBC to air its first Icelandic sitcom

Britain is to import its first ever Icelandic sitcom.

BBC Four is to air the first series of the award winning Naeturvaktin – or The Night Shift – from next Monday.

Originally screened in Iceland in 2007, the show is about late-night workers at a petrol station in Reykjavik who ‘battle boredom, strange visitors and their own customers’.

The 12-part series will air in the original Icelandic, with English subtitles.

Director Ragnar Bragason told Icelandic website Visir: ‘It is amazing to get on British television. I think I’m right in stating that this is the first Icelandic TV series to be aired in Britain.’

American production company Reveille Productions are planning a remake of the show, as they seek a workplace comedy to follow the success of The Office, although a pilot has not yet been shot.

Naeturvaktin starts at 10pm on Monday

Published: 5 May 2011