ITV STUDIOS AMERICA DEVELOPING SITCOM BASED ON BRITISH FORMAT ‘WHITE VAN MAN’ FOR ABC STUDIOS AND THE MARK GORDON COMPANY
BOBBY BOWMAN (‘MY NAME IS EARL’) TAPPED AS WRITER
SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., October 17, 2011 – ITV Studios America is developing “White Man Van” for ABC, based on the ITV Studios produced BBC Three series which originally aired in the UK in the spring, it was announced today by Paul Buccieri, CEO of ITV Studios America and Managing Director of ITV Studios International.
Former “My Name is Earl” executive producer Bobby Bowman will write the adaptation for ABC Studios and studio-based The Mark Gordon Company. “White Van Man” centers on a man who is forced to put his business dreams on hold in order to take over the family’s blue collar business.
’White Van Man’ has a great following in the UK and is a universal story, one that translates very well across countries and cultures,” Buccieri commented. “There is humor and drama and tremendous potential for this series in the US and we are thrilled that we have Bobby’s brilliance, and the pedigree of The Mark Gordon Company behind the project.”
Saurabh Kakkar, Creative Director Comedy, ITV Studios UK added “we have very funny and poignant stories from the BBC Three series that can translate brilliantly to the US market. “
White Van Man was BBC Three's highest ever rated debut sitcom and was written by Adrian Poynton. The second series is currently in production.
About ITV Studios America :
ITV Studios America, the US based production entity of ITV Studios in the UK, is one of the largest international producers for the US market and a major force in acquiring, developing and producing reality and scripted programming for US networks. ITV Studios America has a slate of formats in production with major networks and syndicators, including Prime Suspect, Buried Treasure, Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, First 48, After the First 48, Steven Seagal - Lawman, Four Weddings, America Now and The Jeremy Kyle Show.
ITV Studios is a world leader in television production and distribution. It has international production centers in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Scandinavia and Australia as well as America. It is a distributor of programs to over 155 territories worldwide.
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