British hits . . . and misses in the States

HUGH Laurie has seen his fortunes soar since landing the leading role in the US medical drama House.

Distributed to 66 countries, House was the most watched television programme in the world in 2008 and is now entering its seventh season. He has won a number of awards for the role, including two Golden Globes.

Other British actors who have taken the trip across the Atlantic and perfected their American accents to land big roles include Dominic West, one of the central characters in the critically acclaimed Baltimore crime series The Wire.

Scots actress Ashley Jensen, who made her name starring alongside Ricky Gervais in the TV comedy Extras, found fame in the US as Christina McKinney on the hugely sucessful ABC series Ugly Betty.

Scots comic Billy Connolly's 1990s experiment with US sitcom Billy failed after half a season.

And Michelle Ryan, who made her name on Albert Square in EastEnders, was seen in just eight episodes of the Bionic Woman remake in 2007 before it was axed.