BBC America orders royal comedy

BBC America has moved into original comedy commissioning for the first time by ordering a new show that follows two British aristocrats on their first trip to the US.

Almost Royal (7×30′) is being produced by London-based Burning Bright Productions and follows two distant relatives of the British royal family who grew up in rural England as they embark on a US road trip.

The show is being exec produced by Clive Tulloh (Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man, The Dame Edna Treatment) with Seamus Murphy-Mitchell (Bug, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross) attached as series producer.

It will premiere on Saturday June 21 at 22.00 ET, following the finale of the network’s drama series Orphan Black, and will be distributed globally by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC.

It joins other acquired comedies on the network including Absolutely Fabulous, Twenty Twelve, The Inbetweeners, The Thick of It and The Office.