Controller of BBC Two Janice Hadlow confirms that Bel (Romola Garai) Hector (Dominic West) and Freddie (Ben Whishaw) will return to BBC Two next year for a second six-part series of The Hour. Written and created by the award-winning Abi Morgan and produced by Kudos Film and Television, this is the first home grown returning drama series on BBC Two since The Cops.

The second series will be set ten months on and will shine a spotlight on the relationships between news and celebrity in Fifties London. Behind the scenes of the topical news programme, our highly competitive, sharp-witted and passionate news trio will continue to thrill as a group of outsiders working together.

Janice Hadlow says: "I'm delighted that Abi Morgan and the team will be bringing back The Hour for a second series. It has been a hugely impactful, much talked about programme, and the potential for plot development is very exciting."

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, says: "The Hour recommission clearly signals BBC Two's resurgence as it marks the channels first original British returning drama series since The Cops. A second series really allows the team to build on the characters and their relationships against the exciting backdrop of their workplace."

Jane Featherstone, Creative Director and Executive Producer, Kudos Film and Television, says: "In series two of The Hour we are going to find out what happens next in the lives of our news team, as they engage with a new year full of old flames, new loves, thrilling stories and plenty of scandal. Taking us even deeper into our characters' lives and engaging the viewers with its energy, wit and story, we're chuffed to bits to be able to keep the world alive."

The Hour launched in July and averaged audience figures of 2.1 million across the series.

Re-commissioned by Janice Hadlow, Controller, BBC Two and Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, The Hour will return for 6x60minute series in 2012. Executive producers are Jane Featherstone, Derek Wax and Abi Morgan for Kudos Film and Television and Lucy Richer for the BBC.

This announcement continues to demonstrate BBC Two's commitment to original British drama in 2012. It will join a raft of new drama series on the channel including Jed Mercurio's Line Of Duty, Stephen Poliakoff's Dancing On The Edge, Paula Milne's White Heat, Sir Tom Stoppard's Parade's End, and a major new cycle of Shakespeare's four most acclaimed historical works as part of a season based on the Bard's life and works.

MO