Matt LeBlanc sitcom recommissioned

Matt LeBlanc sitcom Episodes will return to BBC Two for a second series.

The broadcaster has today announced the recommission, with co-stars Tamsin Greig and Stephen Mangan also returning.

Writers David Crane – whose credits include Friends – and Jeffery Klarik will pick up the story of the British couple staying in Hollywood to work on their TV show. The first series ended with Greig’s character Bev having a one-night stand with LeBlanc.

Ratings for the series were modest, though far from disastrous, averaging 1.3million over the seven episodes, after a 1.86 million debut.

BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow said: ‘The first series was a great success and I'm delighted to have more Episodes on BBC Two’ – while comedy commissioner Cheryl Taylor praised LeBlanc's ‘brilliantly funny and nuanced performance’.

Jimmy Mulville, managing director of producers Hat Trick added: ‘At the end of the first series the writers have placed our three protagonists in the middle of comedy hell. Like the rest of the audience I can’t wait to see what is going to happen to them.’

The series is co-funded by America’s Showtime cable network.

Published: 1 Mar 2011