Games services specialist Babel Media worked closely with Team 17 to ensure the game retained its unique sense of humour, style and gameplay on interactive TV. Worms will be exclusively available to Sky digital viewers, and will be played on a scrolling background.

Adrian Pilkington, Sky's Head of Games said: "We are delighted to be working with leading licence holders and games companies such as Team 17 and Babel - and excited that we can bring another award-winning games title to Sky Gamestar users."

The Worms series has achieved success across all platforms and has attracted a huge following worldwide, with more than six million units sold. The game is based on opposing armies of worms that users take into battle armed with uzis, grenades, shotguns, mines, exploding sheep and other weapons. The Sky Gamestar version allows for both single-player and multiplayer gameplay.

Debbie Bestwick, Team 17's Commercial Director said: "Worms is one of a few franchises in the Industry that can be converted to almost all media platforms and retain the gameplay experience we have all become used to. We appreciate the technical challenges that were present on the project and are very proud of the outcome. This is a testament to the skill of the personnel involved in the development and design of the project."

The addition of Worms to Sky's dedicated games zone - Sky Gamestar - increases the line-up of games titles, including free and pay-to-play games such as Tetris, Denki Blocks, Pipemania, Beehive Bedlam, Trivial Pursuit and the recently launched Cartoon Network branded games area. Gamestar is currently the most popular interactive area on Sky Active with 56% of Sky digital subscribers having played games, and 25% of users playing regularly each week.

Anthony McGaw, Babel's Chief Operating Officer said: "Let the licence holder develop the IP and we'll take care of it for them. Worms is a prime example of how a great idea can be taken onto different platforms and be done so in the most cost-effective way possible."