FAREWELL TO MODERN FAMILY

OK! shares 10 facts you need to know about the hit sitcom before its finale

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1 The creators of Modern Family initially considered making it an animated series because they were reluctant to work with kids.

2 Julie Bowen – aka Claire Dunphy – was eight-and-a-half-months pregnant with twins on the pilot episode. Camera angles, along with a series of props (like laundry baskets, cereal boxes and couch cushions), were used to hide her belly.

3 Parenthood’s Craig T Nelson was the first choice to play patriarch Jay Pritchett. ‘I really wanted to do Modern Family. I really liked the script and I liked the people,’ recalled Craig, who passed on the project because he felt ‘disrespected’ by the salary he was offered. ‘I just said, “You know what? I’ve been doing this too long.”’ The part went to Ed O’Neill instead.

4 Ty Burrell almost wasn’t Phil Dunphy!