UK remake of Seinfeld show

Jerry Seinfeld’s American reality show The Marriage Ref could be coming to Britain – with Jo Brand as host.

The comic has been lined up to present a pilot edition of the show to be taped later this month, ahead of a possible series on ITV1.

She will appear with a panel of celebrities and comedians to discuss the marital problems of real-life couples who bicker over ‘quirky and ridiculous’ things. The panel will then side with either the husband or the wife in each of the disputes.

Producers give the example of a couple who bicker about the husband’s desire to stuff and display his beloved dead dog to a wife who is fed up of her husband taking his wedding ring off every time he goes out with his mates.

It is based on the NBC show of the same name, which launched in February last year – to withering reviews. Time magazine called it ‘the most God-awful mishmash of a comedy-variety show’

Twelve episodes were aired, hosted by comic Tom Papa and featuring guests including Madonna, Ricky Gervais, Demi Moore and Sarah Silverman. Gervais called it ‘the weirdest show I've ever been on’.

Seinfeld is said to have come up with the idea for the show during a row with his wife Jessica, They got the friend to adjudicate – after which Jessica proclaimed: ‘That's a TV show.’

Click here to be in the studio audience for the pilot.

Here’s a clip from the US series:

Published: 17 Jan 2011