Four more countries develop format

The Kumars At Number 42 has been exported to four more European countries, all of which will make their own version of the comedy chat show.

Dutch TV station NPS is making its ten part series Weltefraeden op 10 this autumn ­ the first comedy format bought by the public service broadcaster.

The show will replace the Indian family of the BBC2 original with immigrants from the former colony of Surinam in South America.

German TV is also developing the format using a Turkish family, industry website C21media reports.

Options have also been sold to Italy and Israel.

The US version of Kumars, entitled The Ortegas, arrives on Fox this autumn, while the Australian version, Greeks on the Roof, has already aired.

The original BBC show is also screened in Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Israel, much of Asia and South Africa.

News of the roll-out across Europe comes just days after the owners of Kumars producers Hat Trick sold almost half the company to venture capitalists for £23million.

Published: 21 Jul 2003