BCG TV News Upstart Crow Series 3 Upstart Crow gets Series 3 Upstart Crow will return for a third series and new Christmas special in 2018

There will also be a special on TV this December, guest starring Emma Thompson as Queen Elizabeth I

Talking about returning next year, David Mitchell says: "I think I'm even pleaseder to be doing a third series"

Ben Elton's Shakespearean sitcom Upstart Crow will be back on screens for a new, third series.

The comedy's second series concluded on BBC Two tonight (16th October), with the announcer confirming that the previously announced Christmas special will be followed by another run of the period comedy in 2018.

After the success of Series 1 last year and the continued popularity of Series 2 for the past six weeks, Comedy Commissioner Shane Allen has ordered six further 30-minute episodes, and a 2018 Christmas special. The five episodes of Series 2 for which overnight ratings information is currently available, have attracted an average audience of 1.15 million.

Launched in 2016 during a season of programmes marking 400 years since his birth, the sitcom sees David Mitchell star as playwright William Shakespeare, attempting to make his mark in Tudor London.

His wife and parents in Stratford-upon-Avon are played by Liza Tarbuck, Harry Enfield and Paula Wilcox, whilst Shakespeare's contemporaries in the capital include Bottom (Rob Rouse), Kate (Gemma Whelan), Marlowe (Tim Downie) and enemy, Greene (Mark Heap).

The regular cast is concluded with Helen Monks as Shakespeare's teenage daughter, Susanna; Steve Speirs as renowned actor Burbage; plus Dominic Coleman and Spencer Jones as fellow thespians Condell and Kempe.

Following the broadcast of the Christmas special - which will guest star Emma Thompson as Queen Elizabeth I - filming for Series 3 is likely to take place early in 2018, for broadcast later in that year.

Ben Elton says: "I am so pleased that the BBC have decided to commission Upstart Crow Part 3. As Shakespeare himself proved with Henry IV, his very long play cycle about a not very interesting Henry, if a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing thrice."

David Mitchell says: "I think I'm even pleaseder to be doing a third series of Upstart Crow than I was to be doing the second. In fact, given the choice, I would have done the third one second and saved the second till third. That would have made me pleasedest, but still, this is tremendous news."

Chris Sussman, Head of Comedy at BBC Studios, comments: "I'm absolutely thrilled that we're getting to do a third series, as we haven't yet had a chance to explore some of Shakespeare's major works such as Pericles and The Two Noble Kinsmen."

Series 1 is available now to buy as a DVD or digital download, with Series 2 due to be released next Monday.

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This story was updated on the 17th October to include the quotes.