If it's true that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then television producers and commissioning editors on either side of the Atlantic really must be great admirers of each others' work as the number of official re-workings and blatant rip-offs shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Undoubtedly taking heed of the millions of pounds generated by Disney's High School Musical franchise and keen to grab hold of the lucrative youth market, ITV are set to launch 'Britannia High' onto the nation's screens within the coming weeks.

And with the line-up and production team behind the show, it looks destined to become a surefire hit.

Not only are Skins star Mitch Hewer and TV's Tracey Beaker, Georgina Hagen set to play two of the super-talented pupils enrolled at the eponymous performing arts school, but Take That's Gary Barlow has also been confirmed as the brains behind the songs they will sing throughout the initial series, which culminates in a 90-minute long end-of-term Student Showcase.

As producer Gareth Philips commented: "We've pulled together a top notch team of writers for 'Britannia High', who are tremendously talented and full of enthusiasm to make this unique show the best drama on television this year."

However, while success is highly likely, it is not guaranteed, as producers Stateside have been finding out the hard way over the past few weeks.

There is no doubting that, in screening 'Life on Mars', the BBC ticked a lot of viewers' boxes, managing to combine an old-fashioned police drama with modern-day production values and, most importantly, rely upon the audience's feelings of nostalgia to make it essential viewing for millions.

As such, producers at ABC must have thought they were onto a winner when the idea was put before them that they need only Americanise the comedy-drama and then sit back and watch the repeat commissions come rolling in.

But, if reports coming out of Hollywood are to believed, such success is looking increasingly doubtful as filming of the pilot series continues to be bogged down with professional disputes, walk-outs and major logistical changes rocking the boat.

Not only has the man charged with developing a US-version of the show, David E Kelly, dropped out, but the location has been changed from Los Angeles to New York at the last minute, though ABC stressed that, as new shows don't usually start shooting until late-July, they were still "on track" to get the pilot out on time.

Given that the Americans, often inexplicably, turn their backs on what Brits believe to be 'comedy classics' - with Fawlty Towers perhaps the best of many examples - while the UK gratefully laps up anything that is sent over from the States, the smart money would be on Britannia High being more likely to get the nod in this increasingly cut-throat age.