Soaps

'Shortland Street' to air on Living

Published Wednesday, Aug 4 2010, 17:57 BST | By Daniel Kilkelly

Adam Rickitt as Nick Tilsley in Coronation Street

New Zealand soap Shortland Street has been picked up by Living and will return to UK screens later this month, it has been announced.

The long-running serial will be given a daytime slot on the channel and is to be transmitted in double-bills on weekdays at 3pm from August 23.

Living will begin by screening episodes which were aired in 2007 in the show's home country. The instalments will start from the point that former Coronation Street star Adam Rickitt joined the programme in the role of Kieran Mitchell.

A Living statement said: "Viewers can learn what has kept TV fans in New Zealand hooked for 18 years, as some of the most exciting episodes reintroduce the intense and emotional show to British audiences."

Shortland Street used to air on ITV in the UK, but it was dropped from the schedules back in 2003. The show is screened on the TVNZ network in New Zealand.

Rickitt bowed out from his Shortland Street role earlier this year and is now planning a pop comeback.