Another sitcom heading for the States?

BBC sitcom My Hero could be the latest British comedy to cross the Atlantic.

Production house Big Bear Films has been in talks with Hollywood agents in a bid to transfer its success to the States.

The move comes after high-profile British import Coupling was axed by NBC after just four episodes. But US versions of The Office, The Savages and Father Ted are all in development.

Big Bear's John Stroud told TV industry website C21: "We think My Hero has plenty of potential in the US, despite the failure of Coupling USA. It's a much higher concept format than just a group of people sharing a flat or hanging out."

The BBC1 show, which has run to four series, stars Father Ted's Ardal O'Hanlon as a superhero living in suburbia, and has been sold to more than 20 countries.

A new version is currently being made for the German market, where "there isn't much of a sitcom tradition", according to Stroud.

Published: 21 Nov 2003