Inside No.9 commissioned for Series 5

Inside No.9 concludes its fourth series tonight, and there have been some incredible episodes over the years, my favourite being series 2’s The 12 Days of Christine (above), so it’s great news that a fifth series has been commissioned, and will air next year.

The BBC have confirmed today that it will promise more fantastically twisted, comic tales from the brilliant minds of Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith.

The announcement follows a very successful fourth series, which kicked off with the highest launch and consolidated rating the show has seen (1.8m).

This year, Inside No.9 scooped the Writers’ Guild Award for the Best TV Situation Comedy and was crowned Comedy Of The Year and Best TV Comedy Drama 2017 in the Comedy.co.uk Awards, adding to an impressive list of accolades that also includes the Rose d’Or Television Comedy Award (2016), the RTS Programme Award for Comedy Performance (2015), and two major prizes at the Banff World Media Festival (2014). Series 4, which airs its final episode tonight, has continued to achieve widespread critical acclaim, hailed as “its most successful series ever” by The Observer and described as “a selection box you have lost the little paper menu for…full of surprises” (The Guardian, G2) with “no room for improvement” (Daily Mirror).

The fifth series will stay true to the show’s anthology format, with each episode bringing an original story, a new raft of characters and surprising twists in the most unexpected of places. Combining horror, thriller, drama and comedy, Inside No. 9 never fails to amaze, delight, unnerve and amuse in equal measures, with series four treating audiences to an episode written entirely in iambic pentameter and a murder mystery told in reverse chronological order.

As ever, a stellar cast is guaranteed, with previous series starring the likes of Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan, Nicola Walker, Noel Clarke, Sheridan Smith, David Warner, Jack Whitehall, Alison Steadman and Gemma Arterton.

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Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith say: “Having tried and failed to convince the BBC to produce a full Cheese & Crackers series (or at the very least a Summertime Special), we have reluctantly agreed to do another series of Inside No. 9. We will once again attempt to trick, tickle and terrify you – but not necessarily all at once. Unless there’s a twist. Which there won’t be. Or will there? Huge thanks to BBC Comedy and BBC Studios for their continued support, and to our loyal fans for continuing to spread the word.”

Shane Allen, Controller, Comedy Commissioning, at the BBC added: “Reece and Steve continue to dazzle, shock and knock audiences for six with their uniquely layered storytelling craftsmanship which attracts the cream of British acting talent. There is not a more distinctive or ambitious comedy show being made anywhere in the world right now as week in week out they create whole new worlds and sets of characters which have instant impact.”

Chris Sussman, Head of Comedy, BBC Studios, says: ‘”We’re incredibly proud to make Inside No. 9 through BBC Studios. It represents the best of British talent at their absolute peak.”

Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two, adds: “Inside No. 9 is peerless comedy. Reece and Steve’s writing continues to shock, surprise and entertain in a way that is utterly unique. I am thrilled that the series is returning to Two next year, it is a vital part of our mix of comedy on the Channel.”

Inside No.9 was commissioned by Shane Allen, Controller, BBC Comedy Commissioning and Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two, and series 4 concludes tonight at 10pm on BBC2.