DISNEY has taken a £1 million gamble on salsa and sequins by buying the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing series for a prime-time American slot.

“I am fully aware that this may sound like the craziest show anyone in the US has ever heard of,” Andrea Wong, ABC’s vice-president, said.

So crazy, perhaps, that ABC has asked BBC Entertainment to produce the show, which on BBC One attracted 11 million viewers and is expected to earn the corporation £20 million over five years through foreign sales.

Ms Wong said: “In a world where it’s easier for reality series to imitate than innovate, I just love how fresh this format is. And the show’s global success demonstrates how audiences around the world find it surprising and, undeniably, fun.”

The Disney-owned ABC network has bought the series as a rival to the American version of Pop Idol on Fox.

An American equivalent of Bruce Forsyth is being sought for the six-part American series, which will be renamed. Eight celebrities will be paired with professional dancers for training and to compete in a live knockout contest.

Ballroom dancing is a popular competitive sport in the United States. There are 23,000 members of the United States Amateur Ballroom Dancing Association and more than 300 American colleges offer ballroom programmes.

The association said: “During the last few years there has been an explosive growth in the interest in ballroom dancing throughout the United States. All age groups and social levels are involved.

“The collegiate ballroom dance competitions are attended by cheering crowds of students and the noise levels are similar to those at football and basketball games.” The International Olympic Committee has recognised dance sport, the competitive version of ballroom dancing, which may feature at the 2008 Games.

British television formats have enjoyed mixed success in the States. Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and Wife Swap have already been converted into American hits by ABC. The Office: An American Workplace, relocated to Scranton, Pennsylvania, is making its long-awaited NBC debut tonight. However, comedy remakes of Men Behaving Badly and Coupling have come to grief.

The dance format, sold by BBC Worldwide, is popular in Italy and Australia and versions are about to start in Poland, Belgium and New Zealand.

Selling a BBC-made version to ABC gives the corporation more income and control over its “brand”, which includes options for US ice-dancing and other specials. Richard Hopkins, BBC Head of Format Entertainment, will take his team to the United States to make the programme.

The BBC has been criticised by Terry Wogan, among others, for “beating to death” its hit. Strictly Dance Fever starts on BBC One on Saturday, replacing celebrities with members of the public. More than 80,000 people auditioned for the show, the oldest being an 89-year-old quickstepper. The winners will get £50,000.

STRICTLY BBC

• Strictly Come Dancing gave rise to:
  
  Strictly Ice Dancing (Christmas spin-off) Strictly Come Dancing — It Takes Two (BBC Two) Strictly Dance Fever (amateurs on BBC One) Strictly Dance Fever on Three: Auditions (BBC Three) Strictly African Dancing (tribal dances)
  
  
• Spin-offs considered:
  
  

  Strictly Kids Dancing — young dance for CBBC Strictly Come Voting — politicians waltz in an election special

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