The man behind hit US cop show The Wire has said he is amazed at the success of the series - both in the US and in the US.

Creator David Simon admitted it was tough at first for the show which was first launched six years ago.

He said: "I didn't know we were going to stay on the air for more than a year. It felt very improbable.

"We barely stayed on the air. To give HBO credit they gave us what we wanted but it was touch and go for a while."

And Mr Simon's stunned The Wire, which is set in his home town of Baltimore, has such a UK fan base.

"Here, it's a cultural hit. I can't quite figure it out," he said.

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