Kelsey Grammer reveals new details of Frasier reboot: ‘It’s a different setting’

Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane in the final episode of Frasier's original run, back in 2004 - Reuters
Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane in the final episode of Frasier's original run, back in 2004 - Reuters

If Kelsey Grammer’s latest comments are anything to go by, Dr Frasier Crane may no longer be “listening”.

Speaking on Monday night’s Late Late Show with James Corden, Grammer suggested that the forthcoming twelfth series of Frasier may be set in a new city, and with the good doctor in a new phase of life.

“The first principle,” Grammer explained, “is that it is a different story, basically. Same group of characters but in a different setting.”

Though stars such as David Hyde Pierce, who played Frasier’s brother Niles, would be expected to return, the show would have to negotiate the death of John Mahoney last year, who played their curmudgeonly father Martin. “We would probably deal with that a little bit,” Grammer confirmed, “with ‘Dad’ being gone.”

Grammer told Corden that “a group of writers” are collaboratively working on the script, which as yet has no anticipated air date, or even a network attached.

As to what Frasier would be doing almost two decades later, in his Sixties, Grammer was open-minded.

“He’s past the radio show… He might be an art dealer. He might be a professor. We don’t know yet.”

But after the 11th series finale, in which Frasier left his family, friends and the city of Seattle, Grammer confirmed that the show “could be [set] in Chicago”.

Frasier ran for 11 years and 264 between 1993 and 2004. It won 37 Emmys and two Golden Globes.