Due to the fan base gained in the United Kingdom, the show's British broadcaster Channel 4 bought the UK rights to season 2 so they could begin airing it only a week later than the US. Due to the Writer's Strike of 2007, "Ugly Betty" went on a hiatus in Britain after the airing of episode "Bananas for Betty" (Episode 10). Channel 4 announced that "Ugly Betty" would return towards the end of 2008. When it returned to British television on September 5, 2008, it received 2.93 million viewers (12.9% share), according to overnight figures, which is a strong figure for Channel 4. This season was originally set to last 20 episodes, but due to the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike, it was shortened to 18 episodes.