Coupling creator Steven Moffat has lashed out at American broadcast network NBC in the wake of the series being cancelled in the USA.

Posting as "Steven" on the BBC America message boards, where he has answered questions regarding the original British version of the show that airs on the channel, he said:

"US Coupling was commissioned by NBC, promoted as the new Friends by NBC (we asked them not to), promoted as the sexiest show on TV by NBC (we begged them not to) promoted as the "show you're all talking about" by NBC (no one had seen it, how could they be talking about it???) scheduled by NBC, noted to death by NBC, cancelled by NBC and publicly blamed and disowned by NBC."

In a later post, he adds:

"Been keeping my mouth shut about this for a while. Professional decorum and all that. But with NBC's shameful back-stabbing of it's own creative team - a creative team who were hobbled throughout by NBC's own continual, flat-footed interference - clearly professional decorum hasn't made it as far as LA.

"Sometimes shows have to be cancelled. Of course they do. You can't argue with the backs of a departing audience.

But for the head of the network to announce, in public, that the show 'sucked' - such educated language! - and pretend he'd never liked it ... words fail me."

The full text of Moffat's comments can be found on the BBC America message boards at BBCAmerica.com.