April 01, 2007 12:15pm

KATH & Kim will move to commercial TV after selling
their new series to Channel Seven for $3 million.

The deal ends months of rival networks battling to woo
the Fountain Lakes "foxy morons" away from the ABC.
Seven was not the highest bidder in the cash war but
was chosen because the sought-after comedians wanted
the biggest audience.

The new series, screening later this year, will see
the suburban divas take a holiday to warmer climes and
search for a school for Kim's "gifted" toddler Epony
Rae.

Kath and Kim said they were looking forward to
returning to Seven as its canteen food was far
superior.

"Seven's promised us we're going to be in the stable
and Kim belongs in a stable," said Kath.

"We schmoozed. We did our fair share of schmoozing. We
were just entertaining CEOs with chardonnay and
nibbles.

"I think when we got Kerry Stokes in the spa and he
was legless – literally – that was the clincher," she
said.

"They're paying us literally hundreds of dollars an
episode. The ABC could only afford $10."

The multi-million dollar deal will get Seven at least
eight episodes of the hit comedy with possible further
series to follow. It also gives Seven a flagship
program in its ratings battle with Nine.

Seven programming director Tim Warner said it would be
the network's most heavily promoted show.

"These characters were born at Seven (on Big Girl's
Blouse) and Seven's going reasonably well at the
moment," he said.

"This will add to the momentum and obviously we're
stoked about it."

Confirmed guests include Shane Warne and Little
Britain's Matt Lucas. Other big names are being
chased.

"We couldn't let Sharon near Warney basically because
she just wanted to see his flipper and he didn't want
to expose it," said Kath.

The would-be empty-nester said the dream celebrity she
would most love to meet would be Chris de Burgh.

"He won't return my calls, she said. "Maybe it's
because I called him Chris de Bird. Maybe he was
offended by it."

Regulars Magda Subanszki, Glenn Robbins and Peter
Rowsthorn will return for the fourth series.

Rick McKenna, a producer with Jane Turner and Gina
Riley, said the move to a commercial station meant
they could make the fourth series bigger and bolder
and film off-location.

Source:
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21482024-910,00.html




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