Fifth series ordered

A fifth series of Matt Le Blanc comedy Episodes has been commissioned.

America's Showtime cable channel, which co-funds the show with the BBC, tonight announced that nine new episodes have been ordered.

Series four is currently airing on BBC Two, and attracted 840,000 viewers to Monday's episode.

The show stars Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig as two British comedy writers struggling against the Hollywood system, and has been written by David Crane – who co-created Friends – and his partner Jeffrey Klarik.

Announcing the commission, Showtimes's president David Nevins called Episodes a 'smart, funny comedy gem' and added: 'We are so pleased to continue working with David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, two of the sharpest creative minds in comedy, along with the incredibly talented cast, led by Matt LeBlanc.'

The new episodes will be filmed next spring, Mangan revealed on Twitter.

There is speculation that this fifth season – co-produced by the UK's Hat Trick Productions – will be the last.

• Episodes star Kathleen Rose Perkins chooses her Perfect Playlist of comedy favourites here.

Published: 10 Jun 2015