Why only 8 episodes?

[Tomsdouble]

Yeah, a lot of American shows are 20-26 episodes long and usually they run for the hour including adverts, so that makes the usual running time about 42 or 43 minutes. (Think of 24, an hour of which runs for about 43 minutes!) Am I to undersand that in the US Spooks (or MI5, as it's called) is shortened so it fits (with adverts) into an hour slot?

Another difference is the teams of writers that American shows use. We might have a series running at 6 episodes and penned by one or two writers as opposed to the American 'writing team' format which clearly gives the show in question a longer run.

However I do think after a few years of 10-episode series' it's a shame to revert to a shorter run. Bring back 10 (or 12)!