Work on the eighth series of US sitcom The Big Bang Theory has failed to start on time, as the principal cast members fight for higher salaries.
Stars Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar and Simon Helberg did not return to work for the first day of production on Wednesday.
In a statement, WBTV said: "Due to ongoing contract negotiations, production on The Big Bang Theory - which was originally scheduled to begin today - has been postponed."
The move came as a surprise to the studio, which previously said it expected the eighth series to go ahead without a hitch.
The delay affected a "table read" - in which the cast would have run through the script for the comeback episode.
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