BBC One drama Last Tango in Halifax re-commissioned for second series

The popular weekday drama about reunited childhood sweethearts will appear on our screens again in 2013

Last Tango in Halifax cast (from left: Sarah Lancashire, Anne Reid, Derek Jacobi, Nicola Walker)

Last Tango in Halifax, currently airing on BBC One on Tuesday nights, has been re-commissioned for a second series.

The hit drama series starring Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid has received record ratings, making it the biggest new mid-week drama on any channel this year. The series has attracted an average consolidated audience of 7.1 million so far.

The six-part drama series sees 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.

Last Tango in Halifax is the fifth successful new returning drama series to be launched on BBC One this year. Others include The Syndicate, Prisoners’ Wives, The Paradise and Call the Midwife.

Ben Stephenson, controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, said: “The brilliant scripts, characters and stories told in Last Tango in Halifax have been so affectionately received by the British public that we couldn’t resist a second series. The wonderful cast bring Sally’s extraordinary evocation of family life together with real originality and warmth and I for one can’t wait to see what happens in series two!”

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.