Curb Your Enthusiasm season 9 officially begins filming

The moment was marked in a video featuring recurring cast member JB Smoove

We all knew Curb Your Enthusiasm was returning for a ninth season, but you'd be forgiven for assuming a curveball would be thrown its way to prevent such a delight.

Well, fret not - filming is officially underway on the return of Larry David's HBO comedy series.

The news was announced in a video placing JB Smoove - the actor behind popular supporting character Leon Black - front and centre.

Heading to Larry's trailer, he knocks on its door inviting the actor to come and talk to the fans who are excited about the show's return. In typical Larry fashion, of course, he does what he wants instead.

Recurring cast members Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman and Cheryl Hines are all returning for the show's ninth season as are Ted Danson and Mary Steenbergen; the married couple made sporadic appearances over the course of Curb's previous eight seasons - their first credit arriving in dedicated episode 'Ted and Mary' - and are just two of the series' many recurring cameos which also included Rosie O'Donnell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Wanda Sykes.

Curb Your Enthusiasm season 9 is expected to air late 2017.