Psychoville to return for Series 2 in 2011

BBC Two has announced that dark comedy thriller Psychoville, written by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, will return in 2010.

> Buy the Series 1 DVD.

> Read our interview with Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton.

> Take a look at our Series 1 episode guide.


What's it about?

Series 1 centred on very different characters, who each received an anonymous mysterious letter claiming: "I know what you did..." The last series episode concluded the story at Ravenhill Hospital, for the completely insane, with a huge explosion. In the new series, all will be revealed as to who managed to survive the blast.

How many episodes is it back for?

The show will return with a one-off 60-minute Halloween special in 2010 and a six-part second series in 2011.

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith said: "We're delighted that BBC Two commissioners have responded in the right way to the notes we sent bearing the words 'We know what you did'. We look forward to being able to tickle and terrify our audience once again - preferably at the same time."

Executive producer Jon Plowman said: "We are thrilled that our twisted baby, Psychoville, has been re-commissioned. We look forward to intriguing and scaring the audience next year and the year after."

Who's in it?

Imelda Staunton joins the cast as a sharp-suited, shadowy figure with mysterious motives. Imelda says: "There's nothing I enjoy more than hanging out with weirdoes, freaks and undesirables, so of course I jumped at the chance to work on Psychoville with Steve and Reece."

Reece and Steve say: "Imelda completely 'got' the show and we felt really lucky to 'get' her. She was fantastically funny as a slightly frustrated megalomaniac."

Commenting on her character they added: "She looks like a cross between Mary Quant and Louise Brooks in the role. She plays a powerful woman who is a little bit Jane Tennison from Prime Suspect but longs to be James Bond's M."

Other stars across the special and the new series include the return of Eileen Aitkins as Nurse Kenchington, Dawn French as Joy, Daisy Haggard as Debbie, Jason Tompkins as Robert, Lisa Hammond as Kerry and Christopher Biggins as himself.

The cast for the second series also includes Jason Watkins (Being Human), Mark Bonnar (Casualty), Sarah Solemani (Him and Her), David Cann (Brass Eye) and Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd).

What's coming up?

In the special the spirits are gathering at Ravenhill Hospital For The Completely Insane where TV researcher Phil from "Dale Winton's Overnight Ghost Hunt" is scouting locations. He is about to have a night that he will never forget - assuming he lives that long...