Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency is returning to TV.

BBC America has ordered eight new episodes based on Douglas Adams's novels for its US audience.

The series will place Gently in the States, a storyline Adams was considering in drafts for a novel he was working at the time of his unexpected death in 2001.

Scripts will be written by Max Landis, who penned this year's American Ultra film, while producers include Arvind Ethan David, who was also behind David Baddiel's 2010 film The Infidel.

BBC America president Sarah Barnett told Hollywood trade paper Variety: 'Dirk Gently is a very original series, fresh and unlike anything else. The novels have legions of fans, and with Max Landis’ brilliant and audacious take on this material we are excited to bring Dirk to life.'

Dirk Gently was previously adapted for four episodes on BBC Four, a pilot in 2010 and the rest two years later. This series, pictured, starred Stephen Mangan as the unconventional detective and Darren Boyd as his sidekick Richard MacDuff. Mangan tweeted today: 'Dirk Gently rides again! Looking forward to seeing this v much. I won’t be involved this time.'

A new series of Dirk Gently comic books will also be released to tie in with the new TV episodes, to be written by David.

No UK broadcaster was named in connection with today's announcement, but the show is likely to find its way to Britain at some point.

Published: 8 Jan 2016