Episodes is the story of a happily married English couple, Sean and Beverly Lincoln (Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig) who also happen to be successful producers of a hit British TV show called Lyman's Boys. At an awards ceremony in London they are wooed by a hugely powerful and charismatic US network executive who persuades them to move out to LA and remake their hit show for an American audience - with disastrous results.

Things begin to unravel at Sean and Beverly's first studio meeting. It soon becomes clear that the network president has never even seen their show. To make matters worse, he insists they replace their lead actor, an erudite Royal Shakespeare veteran played by Richard Griffiths with Matt LeBlanc. Sean and Beverly are appalled. But the decision is out of their hands. Matt comes on board and they find themselves in a complicated triangle, which threatens to destroy not just their TV show but their marriage too.

The show is being produced by the BBC, Hat Trick Productions and American company Showtime. The seven-part series is being written by the highly acclaimed writing partnership of David Crane (Friends) and Jeffrey Klarik (The Class).

Jimmy Mulville of Hat Trick Productions comments: "These are some of the best scripts I've read in a long time by two writers at the top of their game. To have the opportunity to make a show with David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, with Matt LeBlanc playing a hilarious version of himself, and then to make that show for both Showtime and the BBC, whose combined portfolios of comedy are second to none, is both a thrill and a great privilege. Episodes promises to be one of the great comedy treats for 2010."

David and Jeffrey add: "For the two of us to be doing a show with Matt again is a dream come true. Add to that the chance to work with talents of the calibre of Tamsin Greig and Stephen Mangan? Well, it doesn't get better than that."

Matt LeBlanc adds: "Jeffrey and David have a great idea - I love it. I am really excited to be working with Showtime and the BBC. And I am also so glad I got the part; seeing someone else playing Matt LeBlanc would have been devastating."