BBC One orders more Last Tango In Halifax

The BBC has confirmed a second series commission of ratings-winning comedy drama, ‘Last Tango in Halifax’.

Currently airing on BBC One on Tuesday nights, the Sally Wainwright penned series has been receiving record ratings, making it the biggest new mid-week drama on any channel this year. The series is attracting an average consolidated audience of 7.1 million so far, with last week’s episode overnight averaging 6.2million – and there are three more episodes still to air.

The drama stars, Derek Jacobi, Anne Reid, Sarah Lancashire and Nicola Walker in a six-part drama series about would-be childhood sweethearts Alan (Jacobi) and Celia (Reid) reunited after 60 years. As their lives collide for a second time, Alan and Celia lament over what might have been as they take us on a life-affirming journey of what can still happen. Supporting cast includes, Tony Gardner, Dean Andrews and Ronni Ancona.

Sally Wainwright says: “I’m thrilled by the amazing response we’ve had to Last Tango. People seem to have really engaged with it, and with the wonderful performances of the actors, and I couldn’t be happier about being given the chance to take the story further.”

Nicola Shindler, Red Production Company adds: “We’re simply delighted! I’ve been overwhelmed by the audiences reaction to Last Tango in Halifax. With such great characters and fantastic scripts there are so many stories still to tell and we can’t wait to get started in series two.”

The executive producers are Nicola Shindler and Sally Wainwright for Red Production Company and Matthew Read for the BBC and the producer is Karen Lewis.

Other BBC Drama recommissions include The Syndicate, Prisoners’ Wives, The Paradise and Call The Midwife.

The final three episodes of the current series of ‘Last Tango in Halifax’ will air on Tuesday 11 December, Tuesday 18 December and Wednesday 19 December on BBC One.