ITV’s “Scandinavian noir” detective series Marcella is to return for a second series, with Anna Friel confirmed to reprise her role as title character Marcella Backland.
The show was created by The Bridge’s Hans Rosenfeldt and attracted almost 9.2m viewers for its debut episode.
Although audiences numbers fell across its eight week transmission, ending at 6.8m, ITV says the show was one of its top rated dramas of the year and won an “incredible” reaction from audiences.
Appearing at the Edinburgh International Television Festival on Friday, Rosenfeldt, Friel and Tony Wood from production company Buccaneer Media confirmed a second series would be coming to ITV next year.
Like the first series, the new story will be set in contemporary London and “boldly told with Rosenfeldt’s unflinchingly clear Nordic style”.
Rosenfeldt said: “I was delighted at the reaction to the first season and am thrilled to be revisiting Marcella for ITV.
“In the second season, the audience will get the opportunity to spend more time in her world, further exploring some of the characters and getting to know them better.”
Wood added: “The combination of Hans’s masterful writing, Anna’s gripping performance and Buccaneer’s superb production team struck a chord with viewers.
“Naturally we’re delighted to be working with ITV to create a second season of Marcella.”
Details of guest casting will be announced in the coming months.
ITV’s Controller of Drama, Victoria Fea, commented: “The audience reaction to Marcella was incredible.
“We’re delighted to be confirming a second series and to be working with Anna, Hans, Tony and Nicola on a new story. Hans created a compelling character in Marcella and the audience are keen to know what happened next.”