America has another bash at The IT Crowd

Remake on the cards

An American version of the IT Crowd is back on the cards, creator Graham Linehan has confirmed.

Three years ago, the NBC network announced a six-part remake with Richard Ayoade reprising his role as Moss. But although a pilot was made, an almost line-for-line reshoot of the first UK episode, the series never made it to air.

However, Linehan told fans on a Guardian webchat that another version is now in the pipeline. And he said this script may take the idea in a new direction from the Channel 4 show, in a similar way that NBC’s The Office differs from the BBC’s

He said: ‘They’re working on one at the moment. I’m waiting to see the first script. I have encouraged them to do their own thing and not try to slavishly copy the original.

‘As long as there’s no hugging, no learning, and big set piece moments, I’ll be happy. I don’t even care if they don’t do it in front of an audience. Whatever works for them.

‘But if the show moves too far away from what I consider to be the IT Crowd “brand”, I’ll be asking them to change the title.’

The fourth series of The IT Crowd came to an end on Friday, winning its biggest ever audience, of 2.17million, or more than 11 per cent of the total audience.

A fifth series has already been commissioned by Channel 4.

Here is NBC’s unaired remake, in three parts: