BBC And The Jim Henson Co. Team On New 'Muppets Show' Style Program, 'No Strings Attached'

Thanks no doubt to the success of The Muppets, the Jim Henson Co. is going back to television with a new puppet-based show. No Strings Attached will be a lot like the old Muppet Show — picture a puppet-populated world, with guest celebrities showing up each week to take part in sketches and games. There's more of a competitive aspect in this show, however, as the word 'games' there implies.

But the celebs might mostly be Brits this time out, because the Jim Henson Co. is partnering with the BBC to make the show. Get some more info straight from the BBC, after the break.

Brian Henson will exec produce and call the shots on the puppet front, while Danny Baker will head up the writing staff. The puppets are based out of LA, making this a nice collaborative effort between companies and countries.

Here's what the BBC has to say:

Danny Cohen, Controller BBC One and Karl Warner, Executive Editor Entertainment Commissioning, have commissioned BBC In-house Entertainment to make a pilot for BBC One. The project is a co-production with The Jim Henson Company.

In No Strings Attached (working title), a brand new cast of puppet characters will invite two celebrity guests to enter their world. The guests will go head to head in a series of unique games run by the cast of characters and take part in a variety of sketches, in what will be a warm, cheeky, family affair fuelled by a healthy dose of off-the-wall, madcap fun.

Danny Cohen said: "It's wonderful to be working with The Jim Henson Company and a writing team led by Danny Baker."

Derek McLean, Creative Director, BBC In-House Entertainment, said: "We are delighted and honoured to be providing both desk-space and an original idea to such a powerful array of showbiz talent, in what promises to be the longest credit roller in history."

The creative team behind the show includes Brian Henson as lead puppeteer and Danny Baker as lead writer. The puppets have been created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop in Los Angeles.

Executive producers are Derek McLean and Andrew Westwell for BBC Entertainment, Brian and Lisa Henson for The Jim Henson Company and Martin Baker and Peter Coogan for Baker Coogan Productions, long time Henson collaborators.