How I Met Your Mother spinoff one step closer

A spinoff of the popular US television show How I Met Your Mother has got a new writer and is one step closer to being given the go-ahead.

Called How I Met Your Father, the show is under way at 20th TV, with The Hollywood Reporter confirming a new writer has been brought in.

Alison Bennett has penned FX's romantic comedy series You're The Worst, and now has the task of rebooting How I Met Your Mother.

This is the third attempt at a spinoff of the show since it went off air in 2014, after nine seasons.

The first, called How I Met Your Dad, had a pilot episode in 2014, starring Greta Gerwig and Meg Ryan in the main roles and helmed by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas - the creators of the original series.

How I Met Your Mother ended in 2014 after nine seasons

CBS decided not to pick up the show, and instead tried changing its name to How I Met Your Father, hiring This Is Us writers Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger.

That too was cancelled, and Aptaker and Berger have moved on to projects at NBC.

How I Met Your Mother is one of the most popular sitcoms in 20th Television's history. It followed a father's attempt to tell his children the story behind his marriage.

It starred Josh Radnor, Cobie Smulders, Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan and Neil Patrick Harris.

The new show would not be a traditional spinoff, but a brand new take on the premise with new characters.

It incorporates the same storytelling device as the original series of a person telling the story of how they met their spouse.

There is yet no details on if or when the show will be finally be given the go-ahead at 20th, or who would star in the main roles.