'Summer Heights' creator develops new show

Chris Lilley, the creator and star of Australian high school comedy Summer Heights High, is developing a new series for ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

According to The Daily Telegraph, Lilley wasn't present to pick up his gong at the recent Fine Arts Awards as he was too busy with his new project.

ABC declined to comment on the format of the new show, though Lilley has previously expressed an interest in revisiting his cop-turned-motivational speaker character Phil Olivetti and spoilt Summer Heights schoolgirl Ja'mie King.

In a recent interview with Metro, Lilley admitted that he had turned down "lots of money" to remake Summer Heights High in the US.

"They wanted me to do it again in an American accent - all these terrible ideas," he said. "I wouldn't let it happen. I spent so long working on the characters, I hate the thought of someone else playing them."