BBC Two orders another series of Rev
According to blogging website Deadline, BBC Two has ordered a second series of Rev, the church based sitcom starring Tom Hollander. Filming on the new series is due to begin next summer, for broadcast in Autumn 2011.
Written by James Wood, Rev stars Tom Hollander as Reverend Adam Smallbone, a Church of England Vicar newly promoted from a sleepy rural parish to an inner-city church in East London. The show also stars Olivia Colman as the vicar's wife; Miles Jupp as the church's fussy Lay Reader; and Simon McBurney as the sinister urbane Archdeacon. Guest stars included Alexander Armstrong and Hugh Bonneville.
The six-part first series was broadcast on Monday nights in June. It started with 2.19 million viewers, with 1.7 million watching the final episode in the run - making it one of BBC2's highest rated comedies.
As the series progressed, a number of reviewers noted that the show was turning into a hit. The Observer called it "one of the highlights of the year", The Stage said the show had "the makings of a classic", and The Radio Times commented: "It would be a sin if Rev were cancelled now." The comedy has also received praise from a number of real Vicars for portraying the church in a realistic way, and been endorsed by celebrity fans including, somewhat surprisingly, singer Lily Allen. Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt is a big fan too: he has named Rev as his top TV show of the past year.
Rev could soon be seen in America too. According to Deadline, US cable channels are "sniffing around a possible American remake."
See below for a clip from the show. To find out more about the show see our detailed guide. The DVD of the series is out in October (pre-order)