US network pulls the plug on latest adaptation attempt

The planned American remake of Peep Show has been scrapped.

Co-creator Sam Bain has told Digital Spy that the Starz network has passed on the project.

He said: ‘I think adaptations to America are really hard. The exceptions – the ones that work, like The Office – are much more rare, because you're trying to change a show and keep it the same at the same time, which is quite weird.’

The project was announced as being in development in July last year – the third time US networks had tried to adapt Peep Show following aborted attempts by Fox in 2005 and Spike TV in 2008.

Bain was working on the Starz project with co-creator Jesse Armstrong, but suggested he wouldn't be involved if Hollywood was to have another crack at adapting the show.

‘I don't think I want to get too heavily involved in remaking a show I've spent 12 years writing, to be perfectly honest,’ he said. ‘It's like, I've already eaten that meal once, I don't necessarily want to eat it all over again.’

Bain was talking to promote his new comedy Ill Behaviour, which began last night after having been previously available on iPlayer.

Published: 21 Aug 2017