Patricia Heaton sought for 'Middle' comedy

ABC has ordered a pilot of family comedy The Middle and is seeking Back To You actress Patricia Heaton as its star.

The show, about a middle class, middle-of-the-road family living in the Midwest, was trialled with Ricki Lake in the lead mother role, but never taken to series.

ABC has now revived the project, giving the go ahead for a pilot as long as a suitable cast can be found. This would preferably if not necessarily include Heaton, whose other previous work includes a long stint on Everybody Loves Raymond.