Guest stars include Felicity Kendal and Fiona Shaw

The cast has been announced for the third series of Inside No 9.

And settings for the next run of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s acclaimed shorts include a restaurant after closing time, an art gallery, and an alpine chalet in 1978, it has been announced.

As usual, they have attracted an A-list of guest starts, including: Felicity Kendal, Fiona Shaw, Jason Watkins, Keeley Hawes, Jessica Raine, Mathew Baynton, Rula Lenska, Philip Glenister, Sarah Hadland , Tamzin Outhwaite, Javone Prince, Montserrat Lombard, Morgana Robinson  and Alexandra Roach.

Filming on the series began last month, with Shearsmith tweeting a clapperboard showing that the series was being directed by Spanish-born Guillem Morales, who previously helmed the episodes entitled La Couchette and The 12 Days of Christine.

At the time, Pemberton said: ‘The burden [of writing] is now is so heavy after the first two series because of how they were received. But they are a total joy to do because each week you can be very creative with what is half an hour of TV comedy, drama, thriller. You can throw loads of different things at it, so I love the challenge of that.’

In a statement tonight, both comedians said: ‘We are most thrilled to have been handed the keys to another six No. 9s, and to have attracted such a glittering array of talent. We have reassured them that this time there are lots of happy endings, and everybody makes it out alive. And like fools, they believed us.’ 

Shane Allen, the BBC’s controller of comedy commissioning, added: ‘This is British comedy at its most inventive - the powers of story-telling, superb cameo casting and jaw-dropping originality are unparalleled. Modern day classics which surprise, terrify and delight in equal measure.’

Inside No.9, produced by Adam Tandy and executive produced by Jon Plowman, will return to BBC Two later this year.

Published: 20 Jan 2016