Cradle To Grave Series 2 planned
Cradle To Grave, the comedy drama based on Danny Baker's memoirs, is likely to return for a second series.
Inspired by his best-selling memoirs Going To Sea In A Sieve, the comedy is based on broadcaster and writer Danny Baker's real childhood in 1970s south London.
Starring Peter Kay as Danny's father 'Spud', with Lucy Speed as his mother, Bet, and Laurie Kynaston playing Danny himself, the series will conclude on BBC Two on Thursday evening with a double-bill.
Speaking to the Radio Times website today, channel boss Kim Shillinglaw said she is "really, really keen" to order a second series from producers ITV Studios, but that they need to find space in the schedules of both cast and crew.
Baker is known to already have begun penning a second series with his co-writer and co-executive producer, Jeff Pope.
Meanwhile, BBC Director of Television Danny Cohen appeared to confirm a second series. After announcing his resignation from the corporation this morning, the former BBC Three and BBC One Controller tweeted a response to a message from Baker: "Thanks Danny. With Series Two commissioned all is well. Thank you for working with us on it!"
Shillinglaw explained: "We have some big talent involved - Peter Kay, Danny Baker, people whose commitments have to be juggled but we are really, really keen. Doing comedy at nine and nine thirty has really worked."
Six of the eight episodes in Series 1 have been broadcast to date, attracting an average audience of slightly over 1.5 million viewers each week, a figure higher than the slot's normal average.
Press reception for the series has been widely positive, with the Guardian noting the "excellent, atmospheric recreation" of Baker's 1970s childhood, whilst critic Bruce Dessau described the comedy as "funny and fast-paced ... if one gag doesn't tickle you the next one probably will."
As previously reported by BCG, BBC Two is also set to renew W1A, Boy Meets Girl and Inside No. 9.