The multi award-winning anthology series from the brilliant minds of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton will return for a sixth and seventh series.
Since launching in 2014, there have been 31 episodes of Inside No.9 including an incredibly ambitious live episode, a stunning silent episode and a Psychoville cross-over episode which took saw fan favourites David and Maureen Sowerbutts and Mr Jelly return rather unexpectedly.
Over five series, many a great talented actor has guest starred in Inside No.9 including Sheridan Smith, Jason Watkins, Julie Hesmondhalgh Alison Steadman, Keeley Hawes, Nicola Walker, Jane Horrocks, Tom Riley and Felicity Kendal with Jenna Coleman, David Morrissey, Ralf Little, Fionn Whitehead, Maxine Peake and Phil Davis just some of the names who can now add themselves to that list after guest starring in series five.
To celebrate the news, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton released a joint statement in which they said “Little did we know when we started Inside No. 9 in 2014 that we would end up with as many episodes of it as Countryfile."
"We are delighted and exhausted in equal measure at the prospect of two more series-worth of tall tales and fearsome fables. However we will endeavour to showcase the very best of what the BBC can do in every genre with 30 minutes of story-telling and some half-decent wigs."
Before jokingly (maybe) adding "We might even try a Countryfile episode, no one would expect that…”
Of course the BBC are keeping tight-lipped about who'll guest star in any of the next 12 episodes, but can confirm that series six and seven will stay true to show’s anthology format with each series containing six brand new half hour films, each set in a different location.
As ever, the style and tone will change each week, combining a different mix of horror, thriller, drama and comedy which always aims to surprise, delight, unnerve and amuse.
Controller for BBC Comedy Commissioning, Shane Allen commented “With over 30 distinctive and dazzling shows to date, their ability to master and nail every genre of story-telling with brevity, invention and flair is unparalleled. Oscars have been won for less than Reece and Steve manage to conjure up with each original concept for every single show. Quite simply they have the most fertile minds in British comedy and god knows what magic the next series will bring.”
Whilst Josh Cole, Head of Comedy for BBC Studios added "Reece and Steve continue to make and break all the rules of comedy in ever more spectacular and horrifying fashion, and we are delighted that the BBC have given us the opportunity to make two more series. To paraphrase the show itself, not since the escaped cow has there been such excitement. Long live Inside No.9!”
The series continues to receive plaudits from fans and critics alike and is a real jewel in the BBC's crown. Quite what Reece and Steve will conjure up next is anyone's guess, and that guess will almost certainly be wrong.
Inside No.9 will return on BBC Two