Network gives Joey friendly reception

Friends spin-off Joey has been given nine more episodes by US television network NBC.

10:59 01 October 2004

Friends spin-off Joey has been given nine more episodes by US television network NBC.

This makes it the first new prime-time sitcom to be asked to perform a full season.

The series follows the adventures of Friends character Joey Tribbiani to Los Angeles, where he tries to make it in the movies.

Over the first three episodes the programme has averaged 16.4 million viewers - making it America's top-rated new comedy.

While this is impressive, the series has pulled in fewer viewers than the final series of Friends managed - despite airing in the same Thursday night slot.

Along with Matt LeBlanc, who reprises his role as the bumbling actor with his heart in the right place, the cast has been bolstered by Emmy winner Drea de Matteo as Joey's sister Gina.

Friends ended its ten-year run in May this year with 50 million people in the US and Canada tuning in to see Ross and Rachel head off into the sunset together.

More than 18 million watched Joey's solo debut - but this figure was lower than for any episode in the whole of the last series of Friends.

Five has reportedly won the bidding war to bring the series to the UK - for an estimated 420,000 an episode.