An international TV story worth taking note of… Camelot, a retelling of the Arthurian drama ordered by Starz Media in the US, has been cancelled after one series of ten episodes. The news came despite the fact the series debuted in April with the channel”s highest ever audience (1.125 million).

A big budget co-production starring Eva Green, Joseph Fiennes and Jamie Campbell Bower, Starz said of its decision to axe Camelot: “Due to significant production challenges, Starz has decided not to exercise the option for subsequent seasons of Camelot with our production partners GK-tv, Octagon Films and Take 5 Productions.”

The decision is a blow to Channel 4 in the UK, which acquired Camelot for its Saturday evening 2100 slot, presumably hoping it would run for a few series. More generally, it will raise question marks over the recent resurgence of big budget transatlantic co-pros. Watching closely will be the BBC, which is involved with Starz on a major rebooting of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood. Torchwood starts its own ten-week run on  Starz on July 8.

Alongside investing in co-productions, US cable channels have also been investing significant sums in reversioning UK dramas. Recent hits include Sci-Fi”s US version of Being Human. However MTV”s attempt to adapt Skins for the American market recently went the same way as Camelot.