Granada and ABC announced late Monday that they are to jointly produce a one-hour spy drama set in London and Washington, D.C..

The deal is somewhat ground-breaking, as the two broadcasters seek to find common formats that will appeal to audiences in both America and the UK. The two companies will share development and production costs, setting it apart from earlier collaborations such as the purchasing of the Get Me Out! format from Granada last year.

Antony Root, Granada Entertainment USA President, said: "The reality of a global television business is here. There exists a need for new financial and production models for those who will succeed in an increasingly competitive environment. We are tremendously excited about this new venture and are delighted at the opportunity to continue our ongoing relationship with ABC."

It is understood that the series will air on both sides of the Atlantic, without the usual time delay of weeks or months between airings of the same show. In a release, ABC said: "Inspired by the continuing close relationship between the U.K. and U.S., the show focuses on a combined MI6-CIA Special Activities unit. It will be set in Washington, London and around the world. With a core team drawn from both nations’ intelligence services and Special Forces, it will depict the three overlapping phases of espionage activity – intelligence gathering, analysis and operations."

Simon Shaps, Chief Executive of Granada Content, said: "Now is the ideal time to look at new ways of producing primetime drama series. Granada and ABC are developing a show which explores Britain and America’s fight against global terrorism -- a subject with clear appeal on both sides of the Atlantic. The opportunity to share costs also adds to the attraction of the idea."

Fifteen episodes of Granada's I'm A Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here! will air on consecutive nights during the February sweeps period.