UK deal for Chris's sitcom

Channel Five has snapped up the rights to screen Chris Rock’s new sitcom in the UK.

Everybody Hates Chris, based on the acclaimed comic’s boyhood experiences in a mainly white Brooklyn school in the Eighties, is due to air this autumn, or early in 2006.

Rock – who is London this week promoting his animated movie Madagascar - provides the voiceover, but his younger self is played by Tyler Williams.

The sitcom was bought as part of a slate from Paramount following last month’s industry event known as the LA Screenings.

The other shows are the glamorous Miami-based soap South Beach, produced by Jennifer Lopez;  the lightweight comedy-drama Sex Lies and Secrets starring Denise Richards and set around a group of twentysomethings in LA, and Out of Practice, a medical comedy starring  Henry ‘The Fonz’ Winkler.

But Everyone Hates Chris is the biggest prize, being the toast of the trade bash. Even jaded advertisers were reported as ‘screaming with laughter’ as they hailed it as one of  the best comedy pilots they had seen in years.

Jay Kandola, Five's recently appointed director of acquisitions, said: "These are great additions to our already thriving roster of the cream of US acquisitions."

Five already shows Friends spin-off Joey, Charlie Sheen comedy Two And A Half Men and a raft of other imports including CSI Miami, The Shield and Charmed.

Click here to watch a seven-minute preview of Everybody Hates Chris, which is not due to air in the States until September.

Published: 16 Jun 2005