Five-show deal for US producer

The BBC has signed a deal with the American TV producer behind The Cosby Show, 3rd Rock From The Sun and Roseanne to make a raft of new sitcoms.

Caryn Mandabach will work with Mark Freeland, the BBC's head of comedy commissioning, to develop five comedy scripts.

She already has one project in development with Men Behaving Badly creator Simon Nye, the creator of.

Mandabach said: "I've been a fan of British comedy for all my career. I'm overjoyed to have the opportunity to work with so many great artists and for such a legendary institution."

 She has formed a UK company that will retain ownership of any programmes made for the BBC.

Freeland said: "The BBC is delighted to be in business with someone as uniquely dynamic and productive as Caryn.

 "With her brilliant track record and nose for mainstream hits, we hope that she will complement all the work we already do with UK comedy talent."

Mandabach was a partner at US production house Carsey-Werner-Mandabach until she left last August.

Since then she has sold America’s HBO cable network a script to be written by Britain’s Catherine Tate and Larry Sanders writer Maya Forbes.

Published: 8 Apr 2005