And while the US will be doing their own adaptation of the series, the rest of the world will see the original version.

The programme, shot as a mock fly-on-the-wall documentary shot in a paper supply company in Slough, stars Ricky Gervais as inefficient manager David Brent.

The first series of the show has also been sold to Finland, New Zealand, Iceland and The Federated Republic of Yugoslavia.

It is also being shown on BBC America, run by the BBC's commercial arm BBC Worldwide.

Rupert Gavin, head of BBC Worldwide, said: "The Office works across all countries and cultures.

UK comedian Ricky Gervais is the mastermind behind the show

"The work environment may differ from country to country, but there are comic scenarios in this series that workers from New York to New Zealand will recognise.

"We think The Office will achieve cult status in other countries, as it has in the UK."

The first series has already been shown on BBC Canada and is currently being shown in Australia.

In the US the Slough setting will change to Manhattan, with the Brent character turning into a middle-manager.

The second series of the comedy, recently shown on BBC Two, won ratings of over 4.4m.

It has also won two Baftas for best situation comedy and best comedy performance.

The DVD of the first series has also become the biggest-selling non-film title in the BBC's history, with more than 80,000 sold in its first week on sale in October.

Co-creator Ricky Gervais has promised The Office will return in 2003 but has not confirmed whether it will be a third full series.