BBC Studios and Amazon have joined forces to co-produce comedy series Good Omens, based on Neil Gaiman (American Gods) and Terry Pratchett‘s (Colour Of Magic) acclaimed novel of the same name.

The six-part series will be adapted for screen by Gaiman, who will also serve as Showrunner.

Good Omens tells the story of an apocalyptic prophecy cited by The Nice And Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, (the world’s only completely accurate book of prophecies), that the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.

So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except Aziraphale, a somewhat fussy angel, and Crowley, a fast-living demon – both of whom have lived among Earth’s mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle – are not actually looking forward to the coming war.

And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist…
Neil Gaiman, writer, says: “Almost 30 years ago Terry Pratchett and I wrote the funniest novel we could about the end of the world, populated with angels and demons, not to mention an 11 year-old Antichrist, witch-finders and the four horsepeople of the Apocalypse. It became many people’s favourite book. Three decades later, it’s going to make it to the screen. I can’t think of anyone we’d rather make it with than BBC Studios, and I just wish Sir Terry was alive to see it.”

Chris Sussman, Head of Comedy, BBC Studios, says: “Good Omens has always been one of my favourite books, and it’s hugely exciting not just to be able to bring it to life, but to do so with scripts from Neil Gaiman himself. It feels like a good time to be making a comedy about an impending global apocalypse.”

Joe Lewis, Head of Comedy and Drama, Amazon Studios, says: “Spanning not only the universe but also the entirety of time, Neil Gaiman has created a story that may be the largest ever told on television. We’re excited to be working with BBC Studios to bring Neil and Terry Pratchett’s incredible book to life and to Prime members everywhere.”

A co-production between BBC Studios, Narrativia and The Blank Corporation and in association with BBC Worldwide, Good Omens will broadcast in 2018 initially on Amazon Prime and then on the BBC.