ITV Comission 2nd Series Of The Durrells After Two Episodes

ITV has announced that it has recommissioned hit drama, The Durrells, for a second series following the broadcast of just two episodes.

The series, produced by Sid Gentle Films Ltd., is ITV's best rating new drama of the year and its highest rating new show since September 2014.

Sally Woodward-Gentle, CEO at Sid Gentle Films Ltd., said: "The combination of Gerald Durrell's warm, witty stories and Simon Nye's brilliance at adapting them meant we always knew that we had created something special. The audience reaction has been fantastic and I am delighted that we are able to continue the story and reunite the fantastic cast and crew who have become a close-knit 'family' on and off screen!"

The first episode launched on ITV with 6.4m and a 29% share – the channel's best new programme drama since Cilla in September 2014. The first episode has since consolidated to 8.2m and a 33% share, making it the most watched ITV drama of 2016.

The Durrells, based on Gerald Durrell's trilogy of memoirs, tell the story of Louisa Durrell who makes a radical change and uproots her four unruly 'children' Larry, Leslie, Margo and Gerry, from Bournemouth to start a new life in Corfu in the 1930s.

Keeley Hawes will return as matriarch Louisa alongside her fictional brood played by Josh O'Connor (Larry), Callum Woodhouse (Leslie), Daisy Waterstone (Margo) and Milo Parker (Gerry).
 
The series, based on Gerald Durrell's novels, is written by Simon Nye (Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This, Just William, Men Behaving Badly) and produced by Sid Gentle Films Ltd. The series is executive produced by the Sid's founder, BAFTA award winning filmmaker Sally Woodward Gentle (Whitechapel, Any Human Heart, Enid). Sid's Managing Director Lee Morris (Da Vinci's Demons, Any Human Heart, The Jury) is executive producer together with Simon Nye.  Christopher Hall (Critical, Dracula, Murder on the Home Front) is series producer.

Filming on the second series will take place later this year in Corfu.