WITH its plot lines of mystery, suspense and intrigue mixed with humour and tales of country folk, Kingdom has enthralled millions across the UK and beyond - and now the popular TV series is set to capture the hearts of viewers in America too.

WITH its plot lines of mystery, suspense and intrigue mixed with humour and tales of country folk, Kingdom has enthralled millions across the UK and beyond - and now the popular TV series is set to capture the hearts of viewers in America too.

Simon Wheeler, creator and executive producer of Kingdom, has revealed that the rights to the first two series of the show have been bought by the American public service broadcaster PBS.

The deal means the 12 one-hour episodes can now be shown in all 50 states of the US.

The news comes as viewers on this side of the pond prepare to settle down in front of a new series featuring Kingdom star Stephen Fry in which Norfolk actor makes his way across America in taxi.

Mr Wheeler said: “PBS is the equivalent of the BBC over here.

“The series could be shown in all the States or just some, but either way it will have done very well.”

Mr Wheeler said he understood from friends that the first few episodes had already been aired in New York.

“More episodes will be aired in the coming months,” he continued.

“Often series one and two are shown together because in other countries you get 12 episode series rather than the six episode ones we have done Kingdom in.”

“I think there is a lot to appeal to the Americans. There is an interest in Englishness and there is certainly an interest in Stephen. A lot of our cast are in other shows which air in the States.

“Kingdom is a charming show and the Americans are not immune to that charm.”

But going Stateside will not be

the first foreign foray for Kingdom and the show has already

proved a hit in numerous other countries.

In June, a group of Scandinavian Kingdom fans were given a VIP tour of locations in Norfolk where the series is filmed after winning a competition run to coincided with the launch of the second series in Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

The third series of Kingdom is set to air in the UK next spring, and rumours are already circulating in Swaffham that a fourth series is getting ready to film in the near future.

However, Stephen Fry has been far from idle during gaps in recording the show.

After several one-off documentaries and numerous other TV appearances, a new show, Stephen Fry in America - the New World, will begin on

BBC 1 on Sunday.

The six-episode prime-time

series sees him hire a US cab and visit every one of the 50 US states.