Count Arthur Strong to return for second series on BBC One

Count Arthur Strong is to return for a second series on BBC One next year.

Series one, written by Graham Linehan and the central character’s creator, Steve Delaney, was broadcast on BBC Two in 2013.

The decision to bring it to a wider audience on BBC One is in line with the channel’s tradition of family-friendly character comedy and sitcoms. Count Arthur Strong follows in the footsteps of BBC Two’s continued success launching new talent in hit shows such as The Royle Family, Miranda, Absolutely Fabulous, The Office and The Catherine Tate Show, all of which started life on BBC Two before transferring to BBC One.

Writer Graham Linehan said: “BBC Two has been wonderful in nurturing the show and kind in letting us transfer to BBC One, which I think will suit this big, silly brilliant character even better.”

Stephen Delaney added: “I’m delighted that the show is to transfer. BBC One has a great tradition of live audience studio based sitcoms and it’s wonderful to now be part of that tradition.”

Gregor Sharp, commissioning editor for BBC Comedy, said: “Count Arthur Strong is a true comedy original and we’re delighted to welcome him to BBC One. We hope he doesn’t break anything.”

Series one picked up a string of British Comedy Award and BAFTA nominations, the latter in both the Comedy Writing and Sitcom categories.

The new series, due for broadcast in 2015, sees Michael (played by Rory Kinnear) return to Bulent’s Café, where he is again drawn into Arthur’s world of ill thought-out, innocent but poorly executed scams, schemes and best-laid plans.

An inevitable commotion follows former variety star Arthur’s every move, and is delivered in his inimitable triumphant style with warm-hearted Arthur blissfully oblivious to the chaos he leaves behind.