British Comedy Series Uncle Being Adapted in South Korea

BBC Studios has signed a format deal for the comedy series Uncle, originally produced in the U.K. by Baby Cow Productions, in South Korea.

The local version of Uncle will be produced in partnership with the South Korean production company Monster Union. The series will premiere on TV Chosun with Jung-sae Oh (It’s Okay To Be Not Okay, When the Camellia Blooms) in the lead role.

Commissioned for BBC Three, the original version starred stand-up comedian and singer/songwriter Nick Helm and Elliot Speller-Gillott. With 20 episodes, Uncle was commissioned for three seasons.

Andre Renaud, senior VP of global format sales at BBC Studios, said: “I am delighted that the first localized version of Uncle will be in South Korea and that it will allow us to work more closely with the team from Monster Union. The warm and honest exploration of family told in a fun and humorous way through the eyes of an uncle and nephew feels like the right story for viewers to be able to see in these complicated times. South Korea continues to be a leader in sophisticated scripted adaptation and I’m excited to see how Uncle will come to life in the coming months.”

Hae Ryong Jung, head of Monster Union, said: “BBC Studios has a dedicated international production and format team who can bring fresh stories to South Korea, and we look forward to working closely with their teams on the ground to bring Uncle to audiences in South Korea.”