British digital channel E4 has bought the rights to The Big Bang Theory prequel Young Sheldon and will begin airing the show next year.

E4 has been the U.K. home of The Big Bang Theory since its inception and the show plays a key part in the youth-oriented network's line-up. The Big Bang Theory's tenth season attracted 2.4 million viewers an episode on E4, giving the station its biggest show of the year in total viewers and the station's key 16-34 demographic.

Young Sheldon follows the life of Sheldon Cooper growing up in East Texas with a family that doesn't always know how to deal with his remarkable intelligence. When nine-year-old Sheldon starts high school it's good news for his twin sister, Missy, who no longer shares a class room with him, but the development causes concern for Sheldon's older brother, George Jr., who is already at the high school and Sheldon's father, George Sr., who works there. Sheldon's mother Mary worries about protecting him in an environment that doesn't necessarily value his intellect.

Young Sheldon, which stars Iain Armitage, Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, Annie Potts, Montana Jordan and Raegan Revord, aired its special debut episode last night on CBS. The show was created by The Big Bang Theory's co-creator Chuck Lorre and executive producer Steven Molaro, who produce the show along with Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak. Iron Man director Jon Favreau directed the pilot episode and served as executive producer.

CBS has issued the press release for the pilot episode of Young Sheldon, the new prequel series to The Big Bang Theory which follows the early life Sheldon Cooper growing up in Texas.

Young Sheldon will premiere Monday, September 25 at 8:30/7:30c, immediately after the eleventh season premiere of The Big Bang Theory. Young Sheldon will then return on Thursday, November 2, when The Big Bang Theory moves back to its regular Thursday night time period.

Pilot - 9-year-old Sheldon Cooper is a once-in-a-generation mind capable of advanced mathematics and science but learns that isn't always helpful growing up in East Texas, a land where church and football are king, on the special series debut of the new comedy YOUNG SHELDON, Monday, Sept. 25 (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. YOUNG SHELDON moves to Thursdays (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT) as of Nov. 2. Iain Armitage, Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, Annie Potts, Montana Jordan and Raegan Revord star. THE BIG BANG THEORY's Jim Parsons is an executive producer and narrates as adult Sheldon.

Find more information about the Pilot episode of Young Sheldon in our episode guide.

Annie Potts (Ghostbusters, Designing Women) has joined the cast of Young Sheldon as a series regular, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Potts will be playing somebody very important in Sheldon's life, his beloved Meemaw.

Described as a foul-mouthed and hard-drinking Texan grandmother, Meemaw is nevertheless very supportive of Sheldon's unique genius. She was widowed when Sheldon's grandfather, his "Pop-Pop", died in 1985.

Sheldon's love of his grandmother has long been established on The Big Bang Theory. During the show's second season, it was revealed that Sheldon corresponds with his grandmother, who calls him "Moon Pie" because "he's nummy-nummy" and she could just eat him up. Later, Meemaw visited Pasadena to size Amy up, to make sure Sheldon's girlfriend was good enough to date her grandson.

CBS released its Fall 2017/18 schedule at the Upfronts today in New York. Young Sheldon, the new The Big Bang Theory spin-off focusing on the early life of Sheldon Cooper growing up in Texas, will join its progenitor on Thursday nights starting November 2. The prequel series will take the 8:30/7:30c time period right after Big Bang.

Before then, a special broadcast of Young Sheldon's debut episode will air Monday, September 25 at 8:30/7:30c, immediately following the eleventh season premiere of The Big Bang Theory. Big Bang starts the season on Monday nights because CBS is airing Thursday Night Football through the end of October.

When CBS's Thursday night line-up returns in November, The Big Bang Theory will air at 8/7c, Young Sheldon at 8:30/7:30c, Mom - also a Chuck Lorre show - will air at 9/8c, Life in Pieces at 9:30/8:30c, and the night closes with the new drama series S.W.A.T. at 10/9c.