Seinfeld aims for feelgood humour in marriage show

The American comedian Jerry Seinfeld has been revealing more details of The Marriage Ref, his first new show for television since Seinfeld came to an end in 1998. Although it will feature "real people", he has vowed that no one will be hurt in the making of the series. "Feelgood humour" is what he's looking for - not ritual torture of the participants.

Seinfeld has teamed up with Ellen Rakieten, the long-time Oprah producer, to launch the new panel game show on NBC next March. Endemol, the makers of Big Brother, have the rights to the show and expect to roll out foreign versions a year later.

Attending the Mipcom TV festival in Cannes yesterday, Seinfeld said The Marriage Ref would feature squabbling couples who will have to explain their differences to an "expert panel" of comedians, politicians and celebrities. They in turn will have to convince the Ref, chosen by Seinfeld, to rule in favour of the husband or wife.

The show will not feature Seinfeld himself - which is bound to come as a disappointment to legions of fans. As if proof were needed that they're still out there, the latest episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, featuring Seinfeld and the rest of the gang in a one-off storyline, went out in America on Sunday and broke Curb's record for audience figures.

Seinfeld, however, remains adamant that he will not appear on screen in the new project. "It's really not about me. I don't need the attention any more."

Another matter he's clear on is that The Marriage Ref will not be about humiliating the participants. He told reporters in Cannes that he had "had enough" of humiliation television.

He and Ellen Rakieten had "become allergic to the word 'reality'," he said. "These are shows where you basically see people tortured. In our show you will see people irritated, but then see them happy at the end. You'll be left with a good feeling."

He showed a promotional clip of a couple in their home bickering over the position in the lounge of a snack table, which the man complained blocked his access to the window.

"In common with Seinfeld," he said, "these are little problems that are blown out of all proportion. Like the guy with the snack table: it's ruining his life." ·