in Bermuda.

In a unique transatlantic tie-up, TV executives from England will fly to the US next month to negotiate final details with NBC.

They are optimistic a pilot for the show will be filmed on the Island in the spring, ready for screening in both countries later in the year.

TV critics in the British Press are already writing excitedly about the series, which would feature a young English detective in the Bermuda Police force and an older American who helps him solve murders.

The show has the proposed title "Bermuda Grace'', because of the name of the US character, Sam Grace.

Its creators are Englishmen Will Osborne and Will Davies, hailed as the hottest comedy writers in Hollywood since writing hits like "Twins'', with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito.

Government has been assured the programme will be a sophisticated detective series, like the 70s hit "The Rockford Files'', and will not be action-packed like "Miami Vice''.

The show would be a unique partnership between London Weekend TV and NBC. It is very rare for a US network to invest in a programme with a British station.

But The Wills, as the writers are known, felt a show set in Bermuda would appeal to Brits and Americans alike.

"It's still very much in development and we're very hopeful that we're going to get a pilot film made this spring,'' an LWT spokeswoman said yesterday.

"Deals are being done as we speak, and things are looking positive.'' No actors had yet been decided on, she said. Rock star and actor Roland Gift, originally rumoured to be taking one of the roles, had been ruled out.