Huge 90s TV show to return 22 years after it was axed from ITV

BAYWATCH is set to return to screens – with a new series of the beach and bikinis drama in the works.

The American hit, which made stars of David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, aired on ITV in the 80s and 90s.

It proved a massive teatime family hit for the broadcaster with millions tuning in each week.

Baywatch, set on the drama-heavy beaches of LA County and later Hawaii, was one of the most-watched shows in the world.

It delivered global fame to the likes of Carmen Electra, Yasmine Bleeth and Jason Momoa.

British TV giant Fremantle is now developing a reboot of the series, according to Deadline.

It says that talks are being held with channels and streaming companies about picking up the new series.

The drama – famous for scenes of its stars running in slow-motion across the sand, ended after 13 years in 2001.

It was a big success for ITV, who led its early Saturday night schedule with the show and in the mid-90s it had a global audience of more than a billion.

Baywatch first appeared on American TV channel NBC in 1989, but was cancelled after only one series.

The show’s producers bought back the rights and produced a syndicated version with Hasselhoff as executive producer and ITV putting in some of the financing.

Baywatch producer Pearson Television North America announced it was ending in 2001, by which point the show had moved to Hawaii.

President and CEO Brian Harris said: “The economics associated with bringing the program back could not be justified.

“It has been an amazing success story, but over the last couple of years, one wouldn’t have been surprised with this announcement.

“This is a logical and natural end to the show.”

The main show also spawned the short-lived spinoff Baywatch Nights and two movies.

Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding showing the moment Mitch Buchanan gets married, aired in 2003.

The format was also revived for the Baywatch movie starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Zac Efron in 2017.