The Fall, which stars Gillian Anderson, will be back for a second series

Filming of critically acclaimed crime thriller The Fall is due to get under way in Belfast at the end of next month.

Former X Files star Gillian Anderson and Co Down actor Jamie Dornan are set to reprise the roles of detective and serial killer in the hit BBC cat-and-mouse drama.

The Northern Irish shoot is expected to run over four months and there will be six episodes in the second series.

Initially it was hoped filming would take place in January, but Anderson and Dornan's work commitments saw the shoot put back until February.

Anderson, who plays steely DSI Stella Gibson in The Fall, has tied up shooting NBC drama Hannibal in Toronto, while former Calvin Klein model Dornan, who plays killer Paul Spector, has been busy filming hugely anticipated movie Fifty Shades Of Grey in Vancouver.

The 31-year-old Holywood man, who became a father for the first time in November, takes on the role of kinky billionaire Christian Grey in the big screen version of the literary sensation.

It is understood that most of the principal cast from season one of The Fall will be returning alongside Anderson and Dornan, including Bronagh Waugh, Emmett Scanlan, Gerard McCarthy, Niamh McGrady and Archie Panjabi.

Belfast Telegraph