FOR nearly 20 years, fans of the hit BBC production Tutti Frutti have been desperate to see the series again. In the absence of a DVD release or even a re-run on television, worn-out videotape copies of the show have been changing hands on eBay.

Mystery has surrounded why the comedy-drama series about a revived Scottish rock'n'roll band, written by Scottish artist and playwright John Byrne, has lain in the archives since its first broadcast in 1987.

Those involved with the original production have hinted that the problem may have been a dispute over music rights, while others have said that contracts with the actors, including Robbie Coltrane and Emma Thompson, would have to be renegotiated. Byrne himself suggested there may have been a class bias against the production.

Yesterday, however, the BBC revealed that the problems preventing a re-release are now "resolvable".

Although refusing to divulge details of the dispute, the BBC confirmed that moves are afoot to bring it back to a TV audience or release it on DVD.

A spokeswoman from digital channel BBC Four, who would not go so far to confirm dates for a repeat broadcast, said: "It's the kind of archive TV that BBC Four would show, and the channel is looking into it along with many other classic series." The Sunday Herald understands that Tutti Frutti will not be reshown on BBC One or BBC Two.

The reformed structure of the BBC means that old programmes are transferred to BBC Worldwide, which in turn works with private company, 2 entertain ltd, to release and distribute DVD and video copies of shows.

A spokesman, speaking for both organisations, said: "BBC Worldwide and 2 entertain ltd would be interested in issuing Tutti Frutti as a DVD at some point, but it is not on the schedule for work to begin on that this year."

Byrne said he was delighted that "whatever the mystery was" has now been resolved. "I only got the news the other day from my agent," he said. "I'm very happy indeed that someone has gotten to the bottom of it so it can be shown on TV or released on DVD."

Byrne is working on a production of Tutti Frutti for the National Theatre of Scotland, to be staged in Aberdeen later this month and Edinburgh next month.

He added that even he doesn't know why nearly two decades have passed without the BBC relenting over a re-release. "It is quite a mystery. The real reason behind it still hasn't come out yet - I think quite possibly there was an issue over the songs. And this is speculating, but someone somewhere might rather have a cosy, middle-class thing re-shown than something about lower-class people with a bit of intelligence."

Byrne believes only the broadcast master tapes of Tutti Frutti survive, and that "very likely" all the original film stock, suitable for creating DVD extras and out-takes, has been destroyed.