Oz and co for Oscar set?

Feb 3 2003 By Jamie Diffley , The Evening Chronicle

They are more used to Oscar ceremonies, lavish sets and some of the most glamorous leading ladies in Hollywood.

But TV chiefs are hoping to lure mega-stars Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe to swap the glitz for the life of a gang of Geordie brickies.

The Hollywood legends, who turned Minority Report and Gladiator into box-office smashes, are massive fans of Auf Wiedersehen Pet - and are said to be eager for roles in the new BBC series.

Producers who got the go-ahead for another series of the hugely popular show say they would love to get the A-list celebs involved.

Franc Roddam, executive producer and creator, said: "We had responses to the last series from the most unusual places.

"I'm told that both Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe are big fans and would love to be in the new series and I'd never say never!"

Gladiator star Crowe once appeared in Australian-soap Neighbours when he was a struggling actor, but to have him now would be a major coup for the BBC.

And to bring in Cruise, the leading man in Vanilla Sky, Top Gun and Mission Impossible, would be a fantasy come true for TV chiefs.

It is understood that Mr Roddam is hoping to meet with the pair to try and persuade them to appear alongside Oz, Denis, Neville and the rest of the crew.

A BBC spokesman said: "If it comes off, it would be fantastic."

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet is one of the most popular shows on the BBC and proved to be a big smash when it returned last year after an absence of 16 years.

The show was named as Most Popular Drama at the National Television Awards and Best TV Comedy Drama at the Comedy Awards.

And while the series was set in Middlesbrough and Arizona, this time the magnificent seven will be heading off to the Caribbean island of Cuba.

The gang is employed to rebuild the British Embassy in Havana, but soon get caught up in other activities along the way.

Bosses are remaining tight-lipped but said one of them gets drafted in as a spy while romance blossoms for both Oz and Denis.

Laura Mackie, BBC's head of drama, said: "The last series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet was more popular than we could have imagined, reaching 12.42 million.

"It was an amazing achievement to reunite the cast and I am delighted we have been able to bring all seven together again."