E4 to air Young Sheldon in the U.K.

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.