Episodes is indeed returning to the Beeb.
BBC Two has picked up the UK rights to the seven episode final season of the Matt LeBlanc fronted Showtime comedy series, TVWise has confirmed. The series is distributed internationally by Hat Trick International.
The BBC originally co-produced Episodes for its first four seasons, but around the time of the fifth season renewal they dropped their level of investment, with the intention to acquire this final run. At the time that that happened in 2015, and in subsequent follow-ups, the corporation was unable to confirm if they had closed a deal. That has now happened, with plans to air the final season later this year.
Created by David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, Episodes follows Sean and Beverly Lincoln, two award winning British TV producers who move to Hollywood to adapt their comedy series, Lyman’s Boys, for US television. The comedy series is produced by Hat Trick Productions and stars Matt LeBlanc, Stephen Mangan, Tamsin Greig, John Pankow, Kathleen Rose Perkins and Mircea Monroe. The executive producers are Crane, Klarik and Jimmy Mulville. Co-creator Jeffrey Klarik directed the entire fifth season.
In the show’s final season, several months have passed and the game show is now a runaway hit. Unfortunately for Matt, this means he is now only thought of as a game show host, his years as an actor completely forgotten. Sean (Stephen Mangan) and Beverly (Tamsin Greig) are equally miserable. Sean’s loathsome ex-partner is now in charge of their new show, The Opposite of Us, and Sean and Beverly must now endure his utter lack of humor or talent as they watch him slowly destroy their show.
You can check out Showtime’s trailer for the final season below:
