Claim: Sue Vertue produced a sitcom that premiered on May 12.

Coupling is a British television sitcom written by Steven Moffat that aired on BBC2 from 12 May 2000 to 14 June 2004 . Produced by Hartswood Films for the BBC , the show centres on the dating , sexual adventures , and mishaps of six friends in their late twenties and thirties , often depicting the three women and the three men each talking among themselves about the same events , but in entirely different terms .   The series was inspired by Moffat 's relationship with producer Sue Vertue , to the extent that they gave their names to two of the characters . Coupling is an example of the `` group-genre '' , an ensemble show that had proven popular at the time . Critics compared the show to the American sitcoms Friends and Seinfeld .   The critical reaction was largely positive , and the show was named `` Best TV Comedy '' at the 2003 British Comedy Awards . The show debuted to unimpressive ratings , but its popularity soon increased and by the end of the third series the show had achieved respectable ratings in the UK . The series began airing on PBS stations and on BBC America in the United States in late 2002 and quickly gained a devoted fanbase there as well . The show is syndicated around the world . Short-lived American and Greek adaptations were briefly produced in 2003 and 2007 respectively . In a 2004 poll to find Britain 's Best Sitcom , Coupling came 54th .