BBC puts faith in Atlantis

Saturday night fantasy drama, Atlantis has been renewed for a second series by BBC One.

The series from Merlin creators Julian Murphy, Johnny Capps and BAFTA-winning Misfits creator, Howard Overman, is based on the stories in Greek Mythology and stars Jack Donnelly, Juliet Stevenson, Mark Addy, Robert Emms, Aiysha Hart, Jemima Rooper and Sarah Parish.

Atlantis achieved a strong start with the opening episode attracting a consolidated audience of 8.4 million viewers – the highest opener since Robin Hood in 2006 – and has averaged 7.4m viewers for the following episodes.

BBC1 controller Charlotte Moore said: “Atlantis delivers original British drama with the kind of scale and ambition that we’ve come to expect from the cinema. It feels very much at home on Saturday nights on BBC1, it’s been wonderful to watch Howard and the team create a whole new world, brilliantly inspired by Greek mythology which is proving a hit with all the family and a second series is richly deserved.”

Capps, Murphy and Overman said: “We are all thrilled at Urban Myth Films that Atlantis has been re-commissioned and look forward to continuing the legend next year.”

Full details about the second series are yet to be announced. Meanwhile series one continues on Saturday nights on BBC One.