US wants its own Royle Family

The Americans are to have another attempt at remaking The Royle Family.

Caroline Aherne's comedy is the latest in a wave of British sitcoms - including Coupling, Father Ted and The Office - to attract the attention of network executives.

The Fox network previously ordered a series under the title The Grubbs, but it never made the screen.

Now ABC has also picked up on the show - which it is tentatively calling The First Family - for a pilot script.

Alan Zweibel, who previously worked on Larry David's award-winning Curb Your Enthusiasm, is to write and produce the adaptation, Variety reports.

Recent Brit exports have had mixed success in the States. Coupling, which was touted as a replacement for Friends, was dropped from two prime-time slots this week.

Meanwhile, NBC has just ordered a pilot of The Office, directed by King of the Hill creator Greg Daniel, and CBS is looking at the Victoria Wood comedy Dinnerladies.

Published: 16 Oct 2003