MY FAMILY PROVES A HIT WITH VIEWERS IN 2003
Fifth series of popular sitcom goes into production
London 12 February 2004: Leading independent production and distribution company
DLT Entertainment is celebrating an exceptional 2003 for its hit sitcom My
Family. The company has capped an award-winning year with top viewing figures in
the UK for the show. Currently in production on the fifth series, My Family was
the top sitcom running throughout 2003. Based on ratings information from BARB,
My Family ranked as the fifth most watched entertainment show of the year and
achieved the twenty-third spot in the top 100 shows of 2003.
The fifth series of the popular programme
will consist of 14 episodes plus a specially commissioned flash-back one-off
which will start the show’s run. My Family will broadcast on BBC ONE from March
2004.
In a hugely successful 2003,
DLT not only won accolades for My Family at the TV Quick Awards and the
prestigious National Television Awards, but also cracked the competitive German
market selling the format rights to the long-running programme to RTL and to
Poland’s TVP.
Produced by DLT
Entertainment UK in association with Rude Boy Productions for BBC ONE, My Family
is created by Fred Barron, written by a team of writers and stars highly
acclaimed actors Robert Lindsay and Zoë Wanamaker. The new episodes are written
by an experienced team of writers, headed by James Hendrie and Ian Brown.
BBC ONE aired the fourth series of My Family
last year and it continued to win major audiences throughout the run, further
proving to be one of the broadcaster’s most successful sitcoms over the last
seven years. My Family continually won its Friday night primetime slot with a
35% audience share.
The series has
developed a dedicated viewership both in the UK and internationally, with sales
concluded in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Dubai, Eire, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Holland, Iceland, Israel, Kenya, Kuwait, New Zealand, Norway,
Poland, Romania, Slovenia, South Africa and Sweden. DLT Entertainment has the
worldwide format rights to the series and BBC Worldwide and DLT jointly handle
finished programme sales.
My Family
focuses on the life of Ben Harper, a moderately successful family man and
dentist. He is also undergoing a mid-life crisis and trying to cope with the
bizarre reality of raising his three, very different, teenage children.
Donald Taffner Jr, Vice President DLT
Entertainment says: “We are delighted that 2003 has seen My Family win much
deserved acclaim. It is a true mark of the show’s success to finish the year in
a winning position and we have no doubt the fifth series will prove just as
popular with audiences.” For further information please contact Danielle
Kemble / Andrew O’Driscoll at Premier Tel + 44 (0) 20 7292 5086, Fax +44 (0) 20
7734 2024 E Mail: danielle@premierpr.com
About DLT Entertainment
With offices in London, New York and Los Angeles, DLT Entertainment Ltd. is engaged in every aspect of television distribution and production around the world, as well as stage production in the US and in the UK.
Founded in 1963 as a distribution company by Don Taffner Senior, the company added television production to its portfolio in 1977. DLT Entertainment has enjoyed terrific success over the last forty plus years with legendary hits including the multiple award-winning sitcom My Family, As Time Goes By, Three’s Company, Too Close For Comfort and Meet My Folks. In addition DLT has built a reputation as a leading distribution company with classics such as The Benny Hill Show, The World at War, The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood and The Russ Abbot Show.