The BBC has commissioned a fourth series of award-winning anthology comedy Inside No.9, which is the brainchild of Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. Shane Allen, Controller, Comedy Commissioning made the announcement at the screening for series three, which starts next month, in London this morning.
Since the first series, Inside No.9 has been showered with praise and won awards including the Rose d’Or television comedy award, two major prizes at the Banff World Media Festival, a Royal Television Society Award, the Chortle TV award and the Broadcast Award for Best Original Programme. It was also nominated for a BAFTA award for its screenplays, as well as for two British Comedy Awards.
Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith say: "It’s time for the neighbours at No.7 and No.11 to get worried again. We are delighted at the prospect of a fourth series and venturing into six more properties with a ‘9’ on the door. We do hope you will be there to join us, kicking and screaming to be let out.”
Previous series feature stars such as Sheridan Smith, David Warner, Timothy West, Jack Whitehall, Alison Steadman and Gemma Arterton. Series three which will air in early 2017 also guest stars the likes of Felicity Kendal, Tamzin Outhwaite, Fiona Shaw, Philip Glenister, Morgana Robinson, Jason Watkins, Keeley Hawes, Mat Baynton plus many others and as always series four will have a stellar line-up too.
As with previous series, each film will be set in a different location, the style and tone changing each week, combining a different mix of horror, thriller, drama and comedy, always aiming to surprise, delight, unnerve and amuse in equal measure. With ambitious production values and screenplays that tell original stories in ways which most sitcom and drama series do not attempt, the fourth series will continue to celebrate the craft of the stand-alone comedy drama.
Shane Allen, Controller, Comedy Commissioning, commented: “Reece and Steve set their own bar ever higher with each series, they are consistently brilliant. Their powers of invention and story-telling are sublime and when you factor in their dazzling performances and tremendous cameo choices this really is British television at its very best.
Chris Sussman, Head of Comedy, BBC Studios added: “This is brilliant news, as I’m one of the biggest fans of Inside No 9 around. There aren’t many series that boast such craft and creativity in every episode, and I can’t wait to see six more stories.”
Patrick Holland, Channel Editor, BBC Two says: “The new series of Inside No.9 sees two of the most creative and challenging comedy talents in the UK at the very top of their game. It is brilliant to have such authorship on BBC Two.”
Review of The Devil of Christmas here.
